Everybody loves to win no matter what game you are playing. As a Black male working in an administrative role, you never want to lose on or off the court. However, over time, collegiate Black males have been winning on the courts, but losing in the classroom where it matters the most.
As I have read through multiple articles, I found that the problem with Black males was not actually attaining careers in sports-related professions, but finishing their college degree in a timely manner in order to be considered for said job.
It can be assumed that many Black males, especially those from small or rural towns, envision the role of sports as an avenue in which to ‘get out’. Education may never be at the forefront of their lives, but sports provide the facade of being a life changer. One can go from extreme measures of poverty to being sponsored by international companies - not to mention the stardom that is associated with the popularity of the sport. With sports, some Black males see an ability to provide for their family and become the fathers that they have never had in their lives. But, in spite of these pipe dreams, they forget the key that unlocks the doors for a brighter future - they are reluctant and take for granted the power of having an education.1
Education for Black males in College Basketball
Dr.Richard M. Southall speaks on how Black males are failing across the board in all conferences at the D-1 level. Here are a few numbers that he points out that will have you puzzled.2
- The Atlantic Coast Conference, which had six teams the 2016 men’s Sweet Sixteen, four in the Elite-Eight, two in the Final Four, and one team playing for the national championship has an Adjusted Graduation Gap (AGG) of -32.2 that places it 27th among the 31 D-I conferences (excluding the Ivy League).
- The major conference gap of -32.6 percentage points is much worse than the mid-major conference gap of -18.3 points.
- The overall D-I Black AGG is 9.3 percentage points worse than the White (AGG): -26.7 and -17.4 respectively.
- Among major conferences, the best performers are Conference-USA (-25.2) and the Big East (-25.9), both worse than the overall D-I average (AGG) of -23.0.2
The Perfect Playbook for Success
There are three components that serve as a guide for helping Black males throughout their collegiate careers not only on the courts, but also in the classroom. These three things are motivation, character, and heart.
1. Motivation
Every Black male that is on the court has the motivation to win, but are they really motivated to win off the court? or are they conditioned to think that daily? If you look at the numbers, while they are conditioned, these students are not taught that the classroom is the first play that should be their motivation. Failing in the classroom is like missing the game winning free throw with no time on the clock, but the clock is their life.
2. Character
Now after that play of motivation we pass the ball to character. With character on the playbook, that student has put himself in place to know what is wrong and what is right. Each person has that moment in life and on the court. When the teacher issues an assignment, character steps right in, and has that player doing his homework.
3. Heart
This play here will win it all. Most teachers and coaches love students who possess heart because it can see them through any obstacle in which they are facing. This play is not easy to run, but with the help of the teachers moral fiber also with the help of coaches, the numbers of Black males being in college failing will then stop.
Now that you understand the Xs and Os, let’s play the game in the classroom so that our Black males will be as successful off the court as they are on the court. The clock is ticking.
Reference:
1Bimper Jr, A. Y., Harrison Jr, L., & Clark, L. (2013). Diamonds in the rough: Examining a case of successful Black male student athletes in college sport. Journal of Black Psychology, 39(2), 107-130.Retrieved from
2Southall, R. M., Sexton, M. M., & Waring, M. B. (2014). 2014 Adjusted Graduation Gap Report: NCAA FBS Football. College Sport Research Institute. Retrieved from
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