Richard Wright’s 1945 book is about growing up poor and black in the Jim Crow South.
Courtesy: Abe Books
In Black Boy, Wright shares experiences about what it was like growing up poor and black during the Depression Years in the Southern U.S. One story he tells is about a fight he had with another black boy named Harrison.
Wright and Harrison are each offered five dollars to fight each other in front of their White bosses. The boys met secretly to plan a “fake fight,” but when the fight began, they realize how hard it is to ‘fake it.’ So, instead of giving the impression they were fighting, their struggle turned into a bloody battle. With the lure of making five bucks each, friends turned on one another–to the enjoyment of White bosses.
Wright and Harrison fought in front of a White crowd, which is precisely what many college athletes–football and men’s basketball players, specifically–do today. If you look at who’s in the stands at those games, and who are the head coaches of those teams, you’ll quickly notice that both are predominantly White. Sure, some spectators are people of color, as are some of the head coaches, but they’re outnumbered. But if you look who’s playing on the field or court, you will see mostly black athletes performing.
Courtesy: ESPN
I don’t think it’s a stretch to compare Wright and Harrison’s fight with the sports culture of college football and basketball. Yes, one could argue that college athletes aren’t paid; they get a degree in exchange for playing. But the truth is many don’t graduate and, those who do, don’t always graduate with the same skills/abilities as non-sports peers.
Just like Wright and Harrison, too many black youngsters are being used today for organizational self-gain. No, I’m not talking about faceless transnational corporations. I’m referring to America’s colleges and universities–schools that could be located right in your hometown or where you went to school.
It’s said–often with pride–that America’s college sports system is unique, not present anywhere else in the world. It’s for a good reason.
