Kevin P. Chavous: College Readiness Is More Than Academics
TheGrio.com is reporting that there is a group of black women in Philadelphia who've taken it upon themselves to get their sons involved in baseball. In 1974, 27 percent of the players in Major League Baseball were African American. Today, that number is only 9 percent. These women are hoping to change that.
The author of the article, Chris Murray, says that one of the obstacles to black boys being more involved in baseball is that many of them come from single-parent homes. Their mothers, perhaps unaware of the benefits of playing the sport, may not encourage their sons to participate. The black athlete's skills, which typically get applied to basketball and football, are likely to thrive on the baseball field and tennis courts, where their participation is not nearly as likely. Also, the cultural infrastructure of basketball and football give it a leg up in the minds of black boys when they are choosing which sports to play.
Two women, Cheryl A. Mobley-Stimpson and Sarah J. Glover, have an interest in seeing their boys play baseball. Mobley-Stimpson runs a Facebook group called "Philly Sports Moms." The Mothers mention that the white male-dominated world of youth league baseball creates some racial hurdles: black boys are typically first-generation players, while the white kids have family members who've been part of the league for years.
Major League Baseball should get involved in recruiting black males to play the sport. This should also be true in tennis, golf and other sports that we traditionally choose not to play. While we are quick to flood the basketball courts, there are thousands of Venus and Serenas out there who've never had a chance to play any sport at all. Additionally, participation in sports teaches lifelong lessons about hard work, consistency, persistence, goal-setting and determination. It was by applying what I'd learned from participating in track and field that I became a straight-A student in college. The key was setting goals and working hard each day to achieve them.
For single Mothers raising black boys, it's important to ensure that your sons are getting proper role models. Find productive males in your community who are willing to provide some guidance and encouraging words for your sons as they go through their most difficult experiences. It's tough to figure out how to be a man, and while many women are confident in believing that they can teach a boy to be a man, the truth is that differences in gender-based perceptions are difficult to ignore. I personally don't feel that I have any ability whatsoever to teach my daughters how to be women, but I can certainly help to teach them how to relate to men.
Get your boys in to sports, but teach them to use sports as an avenue for success in all their endeavors. Athletics can be a pathway to academic, professional and social success. Additionally, seek out sports that are different. We don't need more kids doing the same old stuff.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (17)
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By: Eric on 9/02/2010 11:33AM
Blacks males used to play 'all' the sports! Most seem most are directed towards both basketball, and football by their parents these days. With the hopes of one day securing an NBA contract. When I was young we played just about every kind of sport, even hockey! But, today's youth are more prone to do nothing! Most black youth today are unfortunately focused on selling drugs, embracing the rap culture, and just simply hangin out with no real direction, nor interest! So, I'm not at all surprised to read an article on this topic. Blacks always seem to only "pigeon hole" themselves, then complain when those opportunities that were there vanish! Also, another factor is that pearnts need to get more involved with theor children, little league...etc, but most black parents are "missing in action, both black fathers, and mothers. Sorry, you can't have things either both ways, or always your way. That also is the prevailing mind set in the black community.
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By: Philly Girl on 9/02/2010 4:29PM
What is your problem Eric? Either you don't know many blacks and that is why you constantly degrade them with your stereotypes or you lead such a pitifuly life that the only way you can fill better about your self is by degrading others. Either way, you should see someone about your brain malfunctions.
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By: rasfanta on 9/02/2010 8:09PM
What is the matter with you people? Remember the Negro League? Jackie Robinson, Hank Arron? Black men used to be all up in baseball until they were kicked to the curb in favor of Hispanic brothers.
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By: Jewell on 9/05/2010 10:59AM
I really hate that crap about most boys come from a single parent home so they chose not to be baseball. That is the most amount of crap I've heard since Sarah Palin speech on the campaign trails. Single parents are to be found in every race moreso in the white race because they are the predominant race in the nation. Black boys prefer to play basketball and football because that's where their peers are, that's the game black boys play. Baseball is more of a white sport so black boys are more interested in their peers more than a career as a youngster. It's the same for women in tennis. More girls prefer to play basketball than tennis because their peers are in basketball so young people prefer to be where their peers are. Young people don't think about career and money their parents do that for them. And please stop talking about the single black parent there are single black mothers everywhere and in every race.
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By: charles wallace on 9/07/2010 11:23AM
Young black males do play baseball not "BOYS" of any age!
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By: pat on 9/07/2010 6:06PM
Eric u sound like a dick.U r trying to act like u know but your choice of words r so offensive.Go bac to your trailer trash life my friend.
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By: nonie927 on 9/16/2010 12:36AM
has anyone looked into the phillies or braves or nats or ny yankees or any other teams many black men ryan howard jimmy rollins etc many black players making millions of dollars and hall of famers as well
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