Black Men Can't Shoot

by Scott N. Brooks

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 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 happen just because of natural gifts―instead, 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 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.

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sociologist looks at how young Black men are mentored by "old heads" to in their basketball careers and the different influences that provide opportunities for young, inner city men. Rather than point up the way that sports careers are perceived as the only way out by inner-city youth, Brooks points up the ways that sports give opportunities, and while none of the teenagers he profiles end up NBA bound, they do end up in college. A hopeful and interesting book!!!! And it focuses on Philly, so it has a lot of local flavor.

[Joshuacitrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

ever want to know what it really takes to get to a D one school and then on to the NBA? read this book. it's an eye opener what these kids must go through to "get known". you'll never lump all pro athletes into "rich, spoiled uneducated thugs" again.

[Leslie]

Yay! Another work produced by a very nice person :o)! Check it out.