Overview
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. AsBlack 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.
Full Product Details
Author: Scott N. Brooks
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Dimensions:
Width: 1.70cm
, Height: 0.30cm
, Length: 2.20cm
Weight: 0.454kg
ISBN: 9780226076034
ISBN 10: 0226076032
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 22 June 2009
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Out of stock
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.
Reviews
"""In this vivid depiction of the urban reality of grassroots basketball, Scott Brooks exhibits an insider's passion for the game, broad and deep knowledge of the local history, and a real feel for the significance of basketball in Philly's black community. Along with offering important ideas about the relationship between race and sports, Black Men Can't Shoot is packed with genuine drama and intrigue, making it one of those rare books that are both insightful and truly engaging."" - Douglas Hartmann, author of Race, Culture, and the Revolt of the Black Athlete: The 1968 Olympic Protests and Their Aftermath"""
In this vivid depiction of the urban reality of grassroots basketball, Scott Brooks exhibits an insider's passion for the game, broad and deep knowledge of the local history, and a real feel for the significance of basketball in Philly's black community. Along with offering important ideas about the relationship between race and sports, Black Men Can't Shoot is packed with genuine drama and intrigue, making it one of those rare books that are both insightful and truly engaging. - Douglas Hartmann, author of Race, Culture, and the Revolt of the Black Athlete: The 1968 Olympic Protests and Their Aftermath
""In this vivid depiction of the urban reality of grassroots basketball, Scott Brooks exhibits an insider's passion for the game, broad and deep knowledge of the local history, and a real feel for the significance of basketball in Philly's black community. Along with offering important ideas about the relationship between race and sports, Black Men Can't Shoot is packed with genuine drama and intrigue, making it one of those rare books that are both insightful and truly engaging."" - Douglas Hartmann, author of Race, Culture, and the Revolt of the Black Athlete: The 1968 Olympic Protests and Their Aftermath""
Author Information
Scott N. Brooks is assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside.
