Too many times when conversing within a crowd of Black men, his mind is too often diverted from the struggle to the latest sports scores and events. From one extreme to the other, the Black man's mind is never utilized to its fullest when one end is occupied by the extension of the Western pursuit of sport.

Like a throwback to the Gladiator times, games have always been a part of the European culture making America one of the highest profiting countries in the world from the sports industry, complete with exploitation of the female and fulfillment of stereotypes, especially of Black men themselves.

Most ironic, however, is that when catching the Playoffs, (basketball, football, whatever) the Black man is partaking in one of America's most exploitive arenas of the Black man. No offense to the brothers whose adrenaline is manipulated by the drama, or those who set aside time and partake in the pastimes.

Like any other pleasurable thing, sports can become addicting even to the point of counting anything else void of attention, including family, community, and the struggle. Though a man can partake in both or more - the struggle and enjoyment of games - when the scores of a game takes precedence over discussing the future of their people, that addiction has become a distraction.

Society, the media in general, knows that men, Black men in particular, are a market for the NBA and other sports. Not only are Black men a target but men period are being bombarded with the drama of sports and slowly being distracted from reality, the reason and purpose is to give weight to the feminist movement that seeks to undermine any man's ability to think and reason.

Another distraction of the Black man, or any man, is the woman. A man will go through an entire day contemplating how and what to say to gain entrance into a woman's life, sexually. Some make it a hobby to pursue women and conquer them by adding them to their stable.

And last is money. Making money ranks high on the Black man's think list because it is more difficult for a Black man to get money in this society. The new "ghetto" black proverb has become, "values don't pay the bills." This drains strength from the struggle because it occupies much more of the Black man's mind on how to get over.

The strength of a man lies in his ability to discipline his desires and organize his thoughts and actions. If a man is so easily led astray from his purpose, which is to provide and protect his family and community, by the over pursuit of games, money and women, that man must put everything in perspective. Without Black dignity and unity, nothing else will work.

Allowing American society to direct your way by their powers of marketing manipulation is a sign of a lack of confidence in self and Black people as a whole. Deciphering fantasy from reality and placing reality first is the ultimate goal; anything else is simple control.

© June 2005 By CR Hamilton