For many years, large southern universities have earned billions of dollars from college amateur sports. Football and basketball games fill huge stadiums, sell television deals, and bring in money from clothing, tickets, and sponsors. Many of the players on these teams are Black student amateur athletes. Yet across the nation, some schools are cutting back Black history programs, diversity efforts, and cultural studies that help teach the truth about African American life and history.
The NAACP has spoken strongly about these changes. The group believes there is a serious contradiction in schools that celebrate Black amateur athletes on the field while removing programs that honor Black history and culture in the classroom. These schools often love the labor, but not the laborers.
In his book Black Labor, White Wealth, Dr. Claude Anderson explains how Black labor has often created wealth that mainly benefits others. He argues that Black communities have historically worked hard to build wealth for institutions and businesses that did not return equal benefits back to Black families or neighborhoods. Many people believe college amateur sports follow this same pattern today.
The NCAA earns billions of dollars from college amateur athletics. Major universities also gain huge financial rewards. Although athletes today can earn money through name, image, and likeness deals, many Black communities still see little long-term economic benefit from the success of these sports programs.
Some leaders now encourage talented Black athletes to strongly consider attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, also known as HBCUs. Schools such as Howard University, Morehouse College, Norfolk State University and North Carolina A&T State University have long histories of supporting Black excellence, leadership, and culture. Supporting HBCUs could help keep more money, talent, leadership, and opportunity inside Black communities. It could strengthen Black schools, businesses, scholarships, and future generations.
Families must guide young amateur athletes wisely. Education, ownership, history, and community investment matter just as much as sports fame if not more. Melrose City’s athletes must be made aware of the pro’s and con’s of these practices for their own future. Do your research. This is big business. Please understand that we stand on the shoulders of our mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. Never forget that.
