Think about all of the black athletes who dominate the major league sports in America. Even in many of the sports that black people do not traditionally play, we have seen black athletes come to dominate these sports. It is a testament to the hard work that they put in to be successful at their chosen endeavor.
Tiger Woods rose to dominate the world of golf and in doing so inspired other young black boys to get involved in the sport. The Williams sisters ascended to the top of the tennis world. They too have inspired many young black girls and boys to get involved in the sport, and achieve success. Bubba Wallace worked hard and he broke through to become a favorite driver in Nascar.
Most of the super stars in the NBA are black. The league is about 70 percent black even though blacks make up about 13 percent of the population. Lebron James has mastered his craft and reaped the benefits of his dedication. The top quarterback in the NFL just signed the first half a billion dollar contract in the world of sport. He is a black, man and one heck of a football player. He was rewarded for his skill and hard work.
To make it in the world of sport and earn a living doing it is extremely difficult. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication, talent, and timing. It is really, really difficult to make it it the world of sport.
For many young black men, they see sports as the only way to make it out of their difficult circumstances and though the percentage of people who earn their living playing sports is very low, of the number who do make it, the percentage of black people who do make it is quite significant.
They are successful because they put in the hours to harness their skills. They make the sacrifices necessary to improve their skills. They put in the long hours of practice. They spent countless hours practicing free throws, throwing the football, hitting the baseball, running the tracks, doing what ever it takes to be successful.
When clubs see the value that these dedicated men and women can add to their organizations, these clubs do not hesitate to make them a part of their team. Color does not matter because of what they bring to the organization.
The Los Angeles Lakers is a valued franchise because of the long list of talented players who have been a part of their organization, a larger number of these players being black. Lebron James is the top basketball player in the world and his sheer presence on the Los Lakers, together with a group of other really talented players makes the team’s games must see exhibitions.
Nobody cares that there are so many black men on the teamare. When people come to see them play the fans just want to see great basketball. Lebron James, his top compeer Anthony Davis, and the rest of their cohorts seldom fail to deliver.
They have dedicated themselves to their craft. They have put in the hard work to get where they are, and have earned all of the rewards that they reap. Because they are so good at what they do, many other opportunities have automatically opened to them. They now traverse worlds that otherwise, they may not have known. They are reaping what they have sown.
Now with all of the talk that we hear about how terrible and hard it is for black people to make it in America, imagine a world in which many young black people demonstrated the same dedication to becoming engineers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, computer programmers, teachers, entrepreneurs, public servants and other professions.
Would these black people not have the same measure of success, and the opportunities that come in their chosen fields of endeavor? Or does America hate black people so much that the only place black people can be successful is in the field of entertainment where they fit a certain stereotype?