ISBN: 9780226076034

The myth of the natural black athlete is widespread, though it's usually only talked about when a sports commentator or celebrity embarrasses himself by bringing it up in public. Those ga… Meer...

The myth of the natural black athlete is widespread, though it's usually only talked about when a sports commentator or celebrity embarrasses himself by bringing it up in public. Those gaffes are swiftly decried as racist, but apart from their link to the long history of ugly racial stereotypes about black people--especially men--they are also harmful because they obscure very real, hard-fought accomplishments. As "Black Men Can't Shoot" demonstrates, such successes on the basketball court don't just happen because of natural gifts--instead, they grow out of the long, tough, and unpredictable process of becoming a known player.Scott N. Brooks spent four years coaching summer league basketball in Philadelphia. And what he saw, heard, and felt working with the young black men on his team tells us much about how some kids are able to make the extraordinary journey from the ghetto to the NCAA. To show how good players make the transition to greatness, Brooks tells the story of two young men, Jermaine and Ray, following them through their high school years and chronicling their breakthroughs and frustrations on the court as well as their troubles at home. We witness them negotiating the pitfalls of forging a career and a path out of poverty, we see their triumphs and setbacks, and we hear from the network of people--their families, the neighborhood elders, and Coach Brooks himself--invested in their fates."Black Men Can't Shoot" has all the hallmarks of a classic sports book, with a climactic championship game and a suspenseful ending as we wait to find out if Jermaine and Ray will be recruited. Brooks's moving coming-of-age story counters the belief that basketball only exploits kids and lures them into following empty dreams--and shows us that by playing ball, some of these young black men have already begun their education even before they get to college. Media >, [PU: University of Chicago Press]<

ISBN: 0226076032

The myth of the natural black athlete is widespread, though it s usually talked about only when a sports commentator or celebrity embarrasses himself by bringing it up in public. Those ga… Meer...

The myth of the natural black athlete is widespread, though it s usually talked about only when a sports commentator or celebrity embarrasses himself by bringing it up in public. Those gaffes are swiftly decried as racist, but apart from their link to the long history of ugly racial stereotypes about black peopleespecially menthey are also harmful because they obscure very real, hard-fought accomplishments. As"Black Men Can t Shoot "demonstrates, such successes on the basketball court don t happen just because of natural giftsinstead, they grow out of the long, tough, and unpredictable process of becoming a known player. Scott Norman Brooks spent four years coaching summer league basketball in Philadelphia. And what he saw, heard, and felt working with the young black men on his team tells us much about how some kids are able to make the extraordinary journey from the ghetto to the NCAA. He tells the story of two young men, Jermaine and Ray, following them through their high school years and chronicling their breakthroughs and frustrations on the court as well as their troubles at home. "Black Men Can t Shoot" is a moving coming-of-age story that counters the belief that basketball only exploits kids and lures them into following empty dreamsand shows us that by playing ball, some of these young black men have already begun their education even before they get to college. african-american studies,basketball,politics and social sciences,science and math,social science,social sciences,sociology,specific demographics,sports and outdoors,sports and recreation Basketball, University of Chicago Press<

2009, ISBN: 9780226076034

Hardcover book. 228 pages. Published by University of Chicago Press (2009) Media > Book, [PU: University of Chicago Press]