Kareem Abdul Jaabar is a Muslim. I know that. Muslims know that Kareem and Jaabar are virtues and even names of Allah. They mean the servant of the exalted one. Awesome. In person he is 7 foot 2. The introduction that they did send Goosebumps in me. I was not keen to attend this talk but somehow, when I see the teachers walking briskly for the final keynote address, I followed and I was not disappointed.
Kareems's message was simple. He wants Americans to know that the greatest basketball team in the world is the Harlem Rens (Harlem Renaissance) and the Harlem Globetrotters. These two teams faced tremendous difficulties demonstrating their abilities in the era where sports were segregated. However for their love of the game, these two teams persevered and made their way as becoming first class citizens and putting African American basketball players in mainstream America. Their innovation, style of play and the coach they had all contributed to their success. So keen were they to get acceptance that the Harlem Globetrotters combined comedy into their play, so that they would gain white acceptance as comedians first and sportsman later. They did have their chance and they took it and made a mark for themselves and got respect for the African American community in the process, and made basketball as one of the possible avenue for success for poor African Americans. Apparently he researched their history and had published a book on it. The story of the Harlem Rens and the Globetrotters has been made into a movie and will be screened in the first quarter of 2011. Despite selling this narrative and getting the audience enthused about the upcoming movie, he has a serious message to his audience
His first concern was that too many African American kids have a belief that success can be achieved with a short cut. Every kid wants to become a rap artist and have Jay Zee as his or her manager. He wants Social Studies teachers to spread the message especially among inner city kids in Harlem and Bronx that there are many paths to success. There is no need to become a sportsmen or entertainer. He mentioned he had visited Jamie Escalante’s school and was stupefied when a student asked him ‘you write this book?’ (Implying that a student is amazed that an African American NBS basketball star actually wrote and published a book on the history of African American Renaissance). He also alluded to Escalante’s efforts in education by it is a powerful reminder that you can be successful in Mathematics. One need not have to be a sports star or entertainer. What the kids need to know is that with patience, integrity and the right amount of help from the teacher they can achive success.
He feels that America can do more in getting African American students into becoming businessmen, inventors and physicians. He cited the assistant of Alexander Graham Bell who also invented the filament that was used by Edison as a black scientist. This was his second message I guessed, on top of paying homage to the greatest basketball team and putting them in a position in the Harlem Renaissance, he was hoping for a second renaissance, where African Americans would aspire to become Mathematicians, scientist instead of sportsmen and entertainers. To him having and pursuing knowledge is power. What they can do in school and with a good education is better. He financial rewards is also guaranteed and with t
There was also a third message and this made turned Kareem from plain vanilla into awesome Oreo Cookie and Cream Haagen Dazs in my eyes. He also wanted these African American kids who have become successful in whatever field they choose, to return to where they came from, buy real estate, improve the houses in the area, invite people to stay in them and improve the community in the process and to make a real difference in the lives of people in their community. No point he says, once you made it, ‘you go out and get yourself a huge diamond medallion and hang it around your neck’.
I thought that was like…wow!. No better way to put the concept of noblese oblige across.
What followed was a serried of question and answer session that saw many questions being put across to him. After that, he indulged the teachers into a book signing session. Did I say that all teachers get a hardback book by him, 4 CDs and some study aids and a poster?. Yes, and his Skyhook Foundation project is partly supported by UCLA, his alma matter.
One good question was asked by a teacher who wanted to know what he felt about the fear that Muslim kids have when they go to town in the inner city area. Below is his reply.
Another well answered questions was when we was asked what can be down with the low graduation rates among African American males in colleges but their high rates in prison. His reply “HOME” . Home factors to him are important and the part played by the father is important. He was fortunate to have a father who is a policeman who would threaten to beat him with anything that he can find. And his dad played an important role in instilling the love of Jazz and basketball in him. Being an African from the West Indies, hard work and respect for his grandmother also instilled in him a sense of urgency in wanting to go for training. These to me are cultural factors that gave him the tools and the will to succeed.
Below is his answer to one of the question being posed.
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