Real Relevance

On one of those days when I felt irrelevant to young people I had a conversation with a young African American basketball player that reminded me otherwise. He and some friends were in the gym while I was working in my basketball office and they were behaving much like I used to at their age – cursing, talking loudly, using the “N” word, etc.

The boys came over to my office and one in particular arrested my attention because he’d already become notorious around school for various foolish infractions. So I jumped into his vernacular and confronted him in language I knew he’d understand. You won’t agree with this one. The young man, a basketball player, was bragging about how he was going to scrimmage against the varsity girls and beat up on them. He ranted on and on until I said,

“You sure talk a lot. “N” are you harder than everybody else because you talk that way? You say you can’t wait to beat the girls’ team. Man, you’re over 6′ tall and pushing 200 lbs. Are you not supposed to dominate the girls? Or what about the trouble you’ve been in here at school – fighting and threatening people? Anyone can do that stuff. Any young boy can act like a pimp, use the “N” word and get bad grades. Some might even expect that from you. I’m not sure what a “N” is but it’s time for you to start becoming a man. You’re better than that. You understand?”

And with that my tirade ended. Wouldn’t you know that this young brotha stood there for my entire speech not batting an eye or offering the slightest response. It was proof that “REAL” is always relevant. I took a chance but only because I care and because it’s clear that without intervention, young people are left to their own natural recourse. That day I just stepped in hoping I could do for him what the big homies (Older guys) did for me once-upon-a-time.