The Talented Tenth
The inner-city way
There were/are not many options for those of us that grew up within the lower social economic class cities, like Philadelphia, Baltimore, Camden, Chester, DC, Detroit, etc.In my childhood, if and when the question was asked…what do you want to be when you grow up….I knew in my heart that I wanted to play basketball professionally. That dream shifted by the time I turned 15. It was then I realized that I wasn’t going to be good enough, so I put my energy into creative writing, and sports media.
Fast forward to the present and I am now a known and respected journalist and consultant. So what’s the catch, you might ask…well it all begins and ends with the color of my skin. I do not breathe fire, and I’m no menace to society, however race and racism plays a major part in our everyday lives. And by no means is this a black and white issue, the plague of race crosses all lines, even with those from the same race, and environment.
However in the stance of my profession it is more streamline, in that many of the professional athletes that I cover are just like me, and when I walk into a press room, game, or practice, those persons writing and reporting don’t look like me, and not only do they out number me, but also the players on the team. It seems that we as black people in America play sports, but we do not write about sports. Half of that statement is true, the other half has more to do with the glass ceiling than anything else.
Why is it that I can walk into a locker room and enjoy a laugh or a story from home with the STAR player, while everyone else gawks and whispers to one another? Well that STAR and I, whether or not we know one another or not, we have a similar background and or up bringing that translates into a natural comfort.Okay now that we have answered that, why is it that a writer such as Michael Tillery who runs this site, and has a great rapport with “A-list” athletes and industry insiders…why doesn’t he have a national column, or regular byline in one of the more prominent basketball magazines? I do not have the answer. When I look at my life and all the pro athletes that I have either grown up with, played against, or attended school with…shouldn’t those strong friendships and relationships be rewarded with a writing job? What is the problem?
AXG and Melo doing what we do
I’m both educated and qualified, and when I apply for a writing job, I am either “over-qualified” or “we’ll call you if something opens up.” My talents are not for the drug cartels of this world, nor should they be utilized to sell automobiles. I am a professional journalist, and I believe that the powers that be are more concerned with skin color and quota than quality of work and relationships.
AXG and Flash share a laugh
I know why the caged bird sings.
AXG.
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April 9th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Great article. What I don’t understand is why the athletes don’t demand that there are more journalist of color. With as many star athletes of color running the 3 major sports, I don’t understand it. Back in the day when black entertainers such as Josephine Baker would be asked to play a venue with little or no black employess she would demand that blacks be hired or she wouldn’t take the gig. Why don’t athletes today understand that? Maybe they haven’t thought about it or just don’t care. With the way many of them are covered I would think they would look to hear a voice that understands them.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Michelle,
I agree with you point. It is so valid, and to best answer your question, the only thing I can think of is that on one hand the athletes don’t seem to understand that they can stand up for journalist of color, and sadly on the other hand, the thought never crosses their mind.
I do know one thing, that when Michael and I walk into these arenas and locker rooms, the black athletes are very happy to see and speak with us.
Hopefully the tide will turn.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Anthony Gilbert,
I hope so. You guys are good at what you do and should share in the profits. People of color should have some control in this market. It’s ridiculous that we don’t. We have to do better.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Michelle, I truly appreciate your support of Michael and I! I trust that it will get better before it gets worse.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Anthony,
You ask - “When I look at my life and all the pro athletes that I have either grown up with, played against, or attended school with…shouldn’t those strong friendships and relationships be rewarded with a writing job? What is the problem?”
What is THEIR problem? Fear…….Envy……….Insecurity
Then you state: I’m both educated and qualified, and when I apply for a writing job, I am either “over-qualified” or “we’ll call you if something opens up.”
“over-qualified” - there is no such thing, its their cop-out for Fear…….Envy……Insecurity
April 10th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Anthony, Thanks for this great article. It makes me think of the NFL and their hiring. “shouldn’t these strong friendships be rewarded…” It seems like those are the ONLY things that get you a job in NFL, being in the owner’s network/radar. So doesn’t it translate back to your relationship with the athletes? You’d think even a company like Nike would leverage your relationships and skills to create a new kind of advertising space.
Have you asked the players why they don’t dictate who they talk to? My guess is that the fear of a backlash would be great. I also guess El Heffe Stern wouldn’t like it. I wonder also if the media companies have even thought about. I know large organizations can get stuck in the way they do things. Maybe they never put two and two together.
I am rambling, but this will be my last point. Finally, look at ’serious’ journalists at ’serious’ organizations, they are lying, going to jail, goose stepping, etc… and they are supposed to be the professionals. At this point, I respect and believe what I read here more than anything the NY Times puts out.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Good points Glenn, I’m going to start asking the players to step up for more writers of color.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Anthony Gilbert,
Your welcome! You guys are great and we appreciate your voice.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
[...] Those who may not know a lot about baseball, but do have the hunger to want to write about it (cough Anthony Gilbert, [...]