[Applause] refuse them it’s a powerful idea
refuse them it’s a powerful idea
refuse them it’s a powerful idea somebody says no I can resonate if you
somebody says no I can resonate if you
somebody says no I can resonate if you say no with a purpose and a plan you
say no with a purpose and a plan you
say no with a purpose and a plan you could change society I come from a group
could change society I come from a group
could change society I come from a group of people I consider myself a group of
of people I consider myself a group of
of people I consider myself a group of people from around the world who’ve
people from around the world who’ve
people from around the world who’ve engaged in refusal at times when they’ve
engaged in refusal at times when they’ve
engaged in refusal at times when they’ve said African people should not be able
said African people should not be able
said African people should not be able to do this and we refuse to accept that
to do this and we refuse to accept that
to do this and we refuse to accept that at times when they said you’re not
at times when they said you’re not
at times when they said you’re not supposed to be here
supposed to be here
supposed to be here I said I’m right here standing one of
I said I’m right here standing one of
I said I’m right here standing one of those who exemplified that courage who
those who exemplified that courage who
those who exemplified that courage who passed away recently was Muhammad Ali
passed away recently was Muhammad Ali
passed away recently was Muhammad Ali and his refusal to be inducted to the
and his refusal to be inducted to the
and his refusal to be inducted to the into the army he refused to harm other
into the army he refused to harm other
into the army he refused to harm other people although he even said you know my
people although he even said you know my
people although he even said you know my profession is boxing but it’s nothing
profession is boxing but it’s nothing
profession is boxing but it’s nothing like dropping a bomb on somebody or
like dropping a bomb on somebody or
like dropping a bomb on somebody or having a gun pointed at someone that
thread that goes back through time
thread that goes back through time Muhammad Ali was a part of that I hope
Muhammad Ali was a part of that I hope
Muhammad Ali was a part of that I hope to connect to that to some degree and
to connect to that to some degree and
to connect to that to some degree and I’m excited to see young people doing
I’m excited to see young people doing
I’m excited to see young people doing that similarly today so I have this idea
that similarly today so I have this idea
that similarly today so I have this idea and I always kind of pause when I say it
and I always kind of pause when I say it
and I always kind of pause when I say it because it worried me when I first
because it worried me when I first
because it worried me when I first thought it then when I first said it out
thought it then when I first said it out
thought it then when I first said it out loud it kind of scared me but here goes
loud it kind of scared me but here goes
loud it kind of scared me but here goes black men should stop playing
black men should stop playing
black men should stop playing professional sports
black folks should stop watching
black folks should stop watching professional sports no I tell you a
professional sports no I tell you a
professional sports no I tell you a little bit about how I arrived at that
little bit about how I arrived at that
little bit about how I arrived at that from a personal level from the
from a personal level from the
from a personal level from the professional level a lot of it is thanks
professional level a lot of it is thanks
professional level a lot of it is thanks to my mother now when I was six years
to my mother now when I was six years
to my mother now when I was six years old the Dallas Cowboys were my team
old the Dallas Cowboys were my team
old the Dallas Cowboys were my team because my family was from Texas and we
because my family was from Texas and we
because my family was from Texas and we were transplants out here to California
were transplants out here to California
were transplants out here to California and the Superbowl was on Superbowl five
and the Superbowl was on Superbowl five
and the Superbowl was on Superbowl five Dallas Cowboys versus the Pittsburgh
Dallas Cowboys versus the Pittsburgh
Dallas Cowboys versus the Pittsburgh Steelers I stayed up all Saturday night
Steelers I stayed up all Saturday night
Steelers I stayed up all Saturday night I had on a little toy store helmet I had
I had on a little toy store helmet I had
I had on a little toy store helmet I had on a little toy store shoulder pads and
on a little toy store shoulder pads and
on a little toy store shoulder pads and even cleats I ran around in the backyard
even cleats I ran around in the backyard
even cleats I ran around in the backyard till almost passed out now I got up and
till almost passed out now I got up and
till almost passed out now I got up and did it again so when it came time for
did it again so when it came time for
did it again so when it came time for Sunday that game was played in the
Sunday that game was played in the
Sunday that game was played in the afternoon
afternoon
afternoon like most six-year-olds I had to take a
like most six-year-olds I had to take a
like most six-year-olds I had to take a nap now I knew my Cowboys were going to
nap now I knew my Cowboys were going to
nap now I knew my Cowboys were going to win and so I could sleep soundly but
win and so I could sleep soundly but
win and so I could sleep soundly but when I woke up my parents had to tell me
when I woke up my parents had to tell me
when I woke up my parents had to tell me and my Cowboys had lost so I vowed in my
and my Cowboys had lost so I vowed in my
and my Cowboys had lost so I vowed in my six-year-old determination that I would
six-year-old determination that I would
six-year-old determination that I would become a Dallas Cowboy and ensure that
become a Dallas Cowboy and ensure that
become a Dallas Cowboy and ensure that this never happens again
this never happens again
this never happens again so I headed up to the local school they
so I headed up to the local school they
so I headed up to the local school they had a after-school program for sports
had a after-school program for sports
had a after-school program for sports and I got a sign-up sheet I took it home
and I got a sign-up sheet I took it home
and I got a sign-up sheet I took it home brought it to my mother and she said no
brought it to my mother and she said no
brought it to my mother and she said no but mom were from Texas we would love
but mom were from Texas we would love
but mom were from Texas we would love the Cowboys this is what I must do she
the Cowboys this is what I must do she
the Cowboys this is what I must do she said no you are not playing sports
said no you are not playing sports
said no you are not playing sports particularly football I came to find out
particularly football I came to find out
particularly football I came to find out later that summer when we took a trip to
later that summer when we took a trip to
later that summer when we took a trip to Texas to go visit our relatives that my
Texas to go visit our relatives that my
Texas to go visit our relatives that my cousin had played football and he broke
cousin had played football and he broke
cousin had played football and he broke his hip and his pelvis and he was in a
his hip and his pelvis and he was in a
his hip and his pelvis and he was in a body cast I’ve never seen a grown person
body cast I’ve never seen a grown person
body cast I’ve never seen a grown person have to be helped to use the restroom
have to be helped to use the restroom
have to be helped to use the restroom understood that no on a physical level
understood that no on a physical level
understood that no on a physical level but it still kind of stayed with me that
but it still kind of stayed with me that
but it still kind of stayed with me that I couldn’t play sports both my parents
I couldn’t play sports both my parents
I couldn’t play sports both my parents are teachers particularly math and
are teachers particularly math and
are teachers particularly math and science teachers they are very focused
science teachers they are very focused
science teachers they are very focused on the idea that I had to do well in
on the idea that I had to do well in
on the idea that I had to do well in academics and sure enough I didn’t
academics and sure enough I didn’t
academics and sure enough I didn’t believe them when I was 6 years old
believe them when I was 6 years old
believe them when I was 6 years old but I earned my doctorate in educational
but I earned my doctorate in educational
but I earned my doctorate in educational psychology thanks my mother would love
psychology thanks my mother would love
psychology thanks my mother would love that I’ve had a chance to be a clinician
that I’ve had a chance to be a clinician
that I’ve had a chance to be a clinician and a researcher and also in charge of
and a researcher and also in charge of
and a researcher and also in charge of mentoring programs for young boys and
mentoring programs for young boys and
mentoring programs for young boys and I’ve asked parents what does it take for
I’ve asked parents what does it take for
I’ve asked parents what does it take for your sons to be successful of the 100 of
your sons to be successful of the 100 of
your sons to be successful of the 100 of the parents I’ve interviewed where’ve
the parents I’ve interviewed where’ve
the parents I’ve interviewed where’ve you actually said athletics who are a
you actually said athletics who are a
you actually said athletics who are a part of the equation they’re more
part of the equation they’re more
part of the equation they’re more focused on their love for their son
focused on their love for their son
focused on their love for their son their flexibility as parents in making
their flexibility as parents in making
their flexibility as parents in making connections that would help their son
connections that would help their son
connections that would help their son lifelong not just on the playing field I
lifelong not just on the playing field I
lifelong not just on the playing field I also did the dissertation looking at
also did the dissertation looking at
also did the dissertation looking at social capital networks what those are
social capital networks what those are
social capital networks what those are really the relationships that people
really the relationships that people
really the relationships that people have with other people to help their
have with other people to help their
have with other people to help their programs and these two programs are
programs and these two programs are
programs and these two programs are looked at in Los Angeles that were
looked at in Los Angeles that were
looked at in Los Angeles that were mainly focused on the academic success
mainly focused on the academic success
mainly focused on the academic success of black boys they had vast social
of black boys they had vast social
of black boys they had vast social network but very few athletes and their
network but very few athletes and their
network but very few athletes and their network and even those athletes were
network and even those athletes were
network and even those athletes were utilized for their college-going
utilized for their college-going
utilized for their college-going contacts rather than the athletic
contacts rather than the athletic
contacts rather than the athletic prowess that they had displayed in the
prowess that they had displayed in the
prowess that they had displayed in the past so this got me thinking a little
past so this got me thinking a little
past so this got me thinking a little bit and brought me back to the broader
bit and brought me back to the broader
bit and brought me back to the broader question of this whole thing about black
question of this whole thing about black
question of this whole thing about black men in sports here in the United States
men in sports here in the United States
men in sports here in the United States but also worldwide because there was a
but also worldwide because there was a
but also worldwide because there was a question throughout the 1900s our black
question throughout the 1900s our black
question throughout the 1900s our black men intelligent enough and capable
men intelligent enough and capable
men intelligent enough and capable enough even to play the games that
enough even to play the games that
enough even to play the games that they’re excelling in today like
they’re excelling in today like
they’re excelling in today like basketball and football can they even
basketball and football can they even
basketball and football can they even coach and that was a question not too
coach and that was a question not too
coach and that was a question not too long ago three folks and I call them
long ago three folks and I call them
long ago three folks and I call them folks because they were inspiring to me
folks because they were inspiring to me
folks because they were inspiring to me as I was growing up demonstrated that
as I was growing up demonstrated that
as I was growing up demonstrated that yes not only were they capable but they
yes not only were they capable but they
yes not only were they capable but they had a chance to impact the rest of the
had a chance to impact the rest of the
had a chance to impact the rest of the world first one is Paul Robeson he was a
world first one is Paul Robeson he was a
world first one is Paul Robeson he was a football player in the 20s and 30s but
football player in the 20s and 30s but
football player in the 20s and 30s but he used his platform to speak about
he used his platform to speak about
he used his platform to speak about human rights for workers another one was
human rights for workers another one was
human rights for workers another one was Bill Russell Bill Russell was one of the
Bill Russell Bill Russell was one of the
Bill Russell Bill Russell was one of the first black coaches in the modern era in
first black coaches in the modern era in
first black coaches in the modern era in the NBA or the National Basketball
the NBA or the National Basketball
the NBA or the National Basketball Association and he had to deal with
Association and he had to deal with
Association and he had to deal with racism in the locker room on his own
racism in the locker room on his own
racism in the locker room on his own team as well as in his own community and
team as well as in his own community and
team as well as in his own community and he connected people in that way another
he connected people in that way another
he connected people in that way another one who got me thinking internationally
one who got me thinking internationally
one who got me thinking internationally was Pele one of the ambassadors from
was Pele one of the ambassadors from
was Pele one of the ambassadors from Brazil Pele’s home country so that Pele
Brazil Pele’s home country so that Pele
Brazil Pele’s home country so that Pele was one of the greatest ambassadors he
was one of the greatest ambassadors he
was one of the greatest ambassadors he had ever met or ever seen and his idea
had ever met or ever seen and his idea
had ever met or ever seen and his idea was to simply spread joy but also
was to simply spread joy but also
was to simply spread joy but also highlight great things that are
highlight great things that are
highlight great things that are happening throughout the world
happening throughout the world
happening throughout the world particularly in so-called third world
particularly in so-called third world
particularly in so-called third world countries but reminding people of their
countries but reminding people of their
countries but reminding people of their humanity so those are pieces in parts of
humanity so those are pieces in parts of
humanity so those are pieces in parts of education as well as sports that I love
education as well as sports that I love
education as well as sports that I love but there have been other questions that
but there have been other questions that
but there have been other questions that I’ve had
so when I think about universities in
so when I think about universities in college and young men going to college
college and young men going to college
college and young men going to college is education really the issue
is education really the issue
is education really the issue particularly at these money-making
particularly at these money-making
particularly at these money-making institutions where they play big sports
institutions where they play big sports
institutions where they play big sports that are making millions of dollars
that are making millions of dollars
that are making millions of dollars basketball or football only thirty to
basketball or football only thirty to
basketball or football only thirty to forty five percent of these athletes are
forty five percent of these athletes are
forty five percent of these athletes are graduating at some of the same schools
graduating at some of the same schools
graduating at some of the same schools non athletes are graduating at a rate of
non athletes are graduating at a rate of
non athletes are graduating at a rate of 50 to 55 percent so in effect black men
50 to 55 percent so in effect black men
50 to 55 percent so in effect black men who are not athletes are more likely to
who are not athletes are more likely to
who are not athletes are more likely to graduate so I have to think about when
graduate so I have to think about when
graduate so I have to think about when I’m mentoring supporting young men as
I’m mentoring supporting young men as
I’m mentoring supporting young men as they’re going through its education
they’re going through its education
they’re going through its education really the issue the sport that I love I
really the issue the sport that I love I
really the issue the sport that I love I told you about football there’s been
told you about football there’s been
told you about football there’s been this film out called concussion and I’m
this film out called concussion and I’m
this film out called concussion and I’m going to mention some of my some of the
going to mention some of my some of the
going to mention some of my some of the people that I admire who played a game
people that I admire who played a game
people that I admire who played a game of football Tony Dorsett who played in
of football Tony Dorsett who played in
of football Tony Dorsett who played in that Super Bowl that I was able to watch
that Super Bowl that I was able to watch
that Super Bowl that I was able to watch at least most of the game Tony Dorsett
at least most of the game Tony Dorsett
at least most of the game Tony Dorsett suffers from dementia now he can barely
suffers from dementia now he can barely
suffers from dementia now he can barely remember his way home Earl Campbell
remember his way home Earl Campbell
remember his way home Earl Campbell another player from Texas who used to
another player from Texas who used to
another player from Texas who used to run over and through people
run over and through people
run over and through people he hit people so hard that they retired
he hit people so hard that they retired
he hit people so hard that they retired from the game that saying we got to
from the game that saying we got to
from the game that saying we got to dealing with her oh camp Earl Campbell
dealing with her oh camp Earl Campbell
dealing with her oh camp Earl Campbell could barely walk
could barely walk
could barely walk what really hit me though was my
what really hit me though was my
what really hit me though was my hometown hero and I grew up in Oceanside
hometown hero and I grew up in Oceanside
hometown hero and I grew up in Oceanside California jr. sale when he took his own
California jr. sale when he took his own
California jr. sale when he took his own life
life
life after suffering from depression due to
after suffering from depression due to
after suffering from depression due to what doctors call chronic traumatic
what doctors call chronic traumatic
what doctors call chronic traumatic encephalopathy
encephalopathy
encephalopathy after so many concussions and hits to
after so many concussions and hits to
after so many concussions and hits to the head he was in such pain I stopped
the head he was in such pain I stopped
the head he was in such pain I stopped watching football and he even had to
watching football and he even had to
watching football and he even had to start questioning watching basketball
start questioning watching basketball
start questioning watching basketball and soccer basketball I found that many
and soccer basketball I found that many
and soccer basketball I found that many of the men who play the game are often
of the men who play the game are often
of the men who play the game are often poor and destitute afterwards soccer
soccer players even had to make a
soccer players even had to make a campaign in the 2010s to ask fans not to
campaign in the 2010s to ask fans not to
campaign in the 2010s to ask fans not to be racist towards them to stop throwing
be racist towards them to stop throwing
be racist towards them to stop throwing bananas at black players calling them
bananas at black players calling them
bananas at black players calling them the n-word or making monkey chants some
the n-word or making monkey chants some
the n-word or making monkey chants some players even stopped playing during the
players even stopped playing during the
players even stopped playing during the middle of the game because it was so
middle of the game because it was so
middle of the game because it was so overwhelming all this time spent even
overwhelming all this time spent even
overwhelming all this time spent even I’ve spent time I’ve even made my wife a
I’ve spent time I’ve even made my wife a
I’ve spent time I’ve even made my wife a football Widow on the weekends strange
football Widow on the weekends strange
football Widow on the weekends strange turn but I think of my children too
turn but I think of my children too
turn but I think of my children too because I was just about dead to them
because I was just about dead to them
because I was just about dead to them unless the commercial came on they
unless the commercial came on they
unless the commercial came on they called daddy daddy and those missed
called daddy daddy and those missed
called daddy daddy and those missed opportunities for me to connect with my
opportunities for me to connect with my
opportunities for me to connect with my children are we connecting around
children are we connecting around
children are we connecting around academics or connecting around health or
academics or connecting around health or
academics or connecting around health or reconnecting around economic development
there came a point when I was studying
there came a point when I was studying for my doctorate studying so hard on the
for my doctorate studying so hard on the
for my doctorate studying so hard on the weekends 3 to 6 hours at a time in a
weekends 3 to 6 hours at a time in a
weekends 3 to 6 hours at a time in a library one year I missed the Super Bowl
library one year I missed the Super Bowl
library one year I missed the Super Bowl I just got a glimpse of getting that
I just got a glimpse of getting that
I just got a glimpse of getting that time back was focused on these young
time back was focused on these young
time back was focused on these young people who I was working with here in
people who I was working with here in
people who I was working with here in Long Beach and helping them get to
Long Beach and helping them get to
Long Beach and helping them get to college I was coming up with new ideas
college I was coming up with new ideas
college I was coming up with new ideas too if we had that time back 9 to 12
too if we had that time back 9 to 12
too if we had that time back 9 to 12 hours a week is how many hours the
hours a week is how many hours the
hours a week is how many hours the average American spends watching sports
average American spends watching sports
average American spends watching sports what we got that time back so here’s my
what we got that time back so here’s my
what we got that time back so here’s my challenge now I don’t know if there are
challenge now I don’t know if there are
challenge now I don’t know if there are any professional athletes here but my
any professional athletes here but my
any professional athletes here but my challenge is for y’all stop playing
challenge is for y’all stop playing
challenge is for y’all stop playing sports for the next three years connect
sports for the next three years connect
sports for the next three years connect with researchers and community members
with researchers and community members
with researchers and community members who can help solve some of these
who can help solve some of these
who can help solve some of these challenge in two very cities where you
challenge in two very cities where you
challenge in two very cities where you play these games and where stadiums are
play these games and where stadiums are
play these games and where stadiums are built almost tax-free maybe the sports
built almost tax-free maybe the sports
built almost tax-free maybe the sports team fund some of that maybe the
team fund some of that maybe the
team fund some of that maybe the athletes or maybe the people themselves
athletes or maybe the people themselves
athletes or maybe the people themselves take back some of that time black folks
take back some of that time black folks
take back some of that time black folks stop watching sports at least two times
stop watching sports at least two times
stop watching sports at least two times a month first time in a month we connect
a month first time in a month we connect
a month first time in a month we connect for real not around a TV screen not
for real not around a TV screen not
for real not around a TV screen not around some smartphone but we actually
around some smartphone but we actually
around some smartphone but we actually talk about the issues that have been
talk about the issues that have been
talk about the issues that have been going on on that second time in the
going on on that second time in the
going on on that second time in the month
month
month Blackfoot connect with young people
Blackfoot connect with young people
Blackfoot connect with young people whether they’re boys or girls I know
whether they’re boys or girls I know
whether they’re boys or girls I know this talks specifically about young men
this talks specifically about young men
this talks specifically about young men but connect with young people encourage
but connect with young people encourage
but connect with young people encourage them Kurds their mind their bodies for
them Kurds their mind their bodies for
them Kurds their mind their bodies for them to take care of their bodies
them to take care of their bodies
them to take care of their bodies long-term because we’re suffering from
long-term because we’re suffering from
long-term because we’re suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes and
high blood pressure and diabetes and
high blood pressure and diabetes and heart disease it breaks you just don’t
heart disease it breaks you just don’t
heart disease it breaks you just don’t make any sense and everyone if you love
make any sense and everyone if you love
make any sense and everyone if you love black men particularly watching them on
black men particularly watching them on
black men particularly watching them on the TV spend some time spend some energy
the TV spend some time spend some energy
the TV spend some time spend some energy promoting awareness but the issues that
promoting awareness but the issues that
promoting awareness but the issues that impact black man and if need be throw
impact black man and if need be throw
impact black man and if need be throw some money down on programs that
some money down on programs that
some money down on programs that specifically impact black men now this
specifically impact black men now this
specifically impact black men now this is all good least for me I get one other
is all good least for me I get one other
is all good least for me I get one other person is able to spend just a little
person is able to spend just a little
person is able to spend just a little bit more time with one black boy each
bit more time with one black boy each
bit more time with one black boy each week so he can have a better academic
week so he can have a better academic
week so he can have a better academic health economic outcome I know I got one
health economic outcome I know I got one
health economic outcome I know I got one in here thanks for your time
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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