Football strategies applied to Black Empowerment: Let’s Play!
by Dr. Samori Swygert
originally published on: http://www.brothersonsports.com/dr-samori-swygert-football-strategies-that-can-be-used-for-black-empowerment/
It’s football season and for the most part, many Americans are attentively tuned into Sunday afternoon and Monday night football. People will always ask you, ” Yo, did you see the game?” In my head, I’m like “Are we saying the real game that’s being played 7 days a week, 365 days a year in perpetuity on Black America?”
Standing on the shoulders of our elders and scholars
I saw a very interesting video by Brother Amefika Geuka. He presented a brilliant analogy of black progress with football. I thought his analogy was very intriguing. I pondered over it while looking at a game earlier. I began extrapolating further into his theory and I would like to put some more meat on the bone he presented. So understand that this concept is not my original idea. I always believe in giving the appropriate credit and acknowledgement where it’s due.
What’s the objective?
The objective in this real life game is to score as many points possible to achieve independence and power that uplifts, sustains and advances Black America.
Routinely politicians and pundits ask that we lift ourselves up by the bootstraps, so it’s important that we devise and develop our own strategies of play.
Who are the players?
This is how I look at it:
The Line of Scrimmage- The line of scrimmage is anywhere African Americans live and operate
The Football– The football is equivalent to power, freedom, independence, capital, and autonomy
Quarterback- The quarterback are the parents in each family. Parents must study, study, study, study and orchestrate the best plays. They are responsible for ensuring that the football (please read what the football is above) is protected at all times and ultimately makes it to the end zone for a score. Sometimes the parents have to do the rushing if they see a clearer path that wont endanger the children (A.K.A. wide-receivers).
Wide-receiver- The Wide-receivers are our youth. The same way wide-receivers break away from the path and run down field to catch the ball and score, is symbolic to our kids that engage the future and position themselves to receive capital, power, and support to score. This is like Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. His parents designed and positioned his path in such a way that he was ready to exploit the opportunity to score BIG once he received the ball.
Wide-receivers (A.K.A. our children) also can get the ball via inheritance and fortune if their quarterbacks (A.K.A. parents) have designed an effective play.
Running back- The Running back is our political strategist and community activist. Like in regular football, they need to be quick, slick, versatile, and agile. They can maneuver in and out of pockets with their wits, networking, and oratorical skills. Their position is to help get many of our plans in motion all the way from grassroots level to the political arena where we can establish yardage in policy and legislation.
Linemen and Linebackers– The Linemen and Linebackers, like during an actual football game, have some size on them — we have offensive and defensive linemen. Let’s say that our linemen are: black media outlets (TV, Radio, Internet,etc), Judges and Lawyers, Business Owners, HBCUs, Fraternities & Sororities, Scientists & Researchers, Mentoring Programs, Churches/Mosques/Temples, Civic Organizations, and Banks.
In staying true to a lineman’s big frame, we equate his physical size to a large membership or participant involvement in Black America. So our strength would be an overwhelmingly high numerical participation in each category. This means we want an exponential amount of black lawyers and judges, black banks and bankers, business owners, etc. We need all of our linemen to be HUSKY WITH African Americans that are committed to the cause of black progress and independence.
Like linemen in football, we need them to provide protection and support for the quarterback when society is making plays against us. Lobbyists, corporations, special interest groups, hate groups, police brutality (unnecessary roughness), the prison industry, and discriminatory policies/legislation are all trying to “sack the black quarterback.”
We need our linemen to also bust open and bombard glass ceilings and closed doors of systemic and institutional racism and discrimination so we can run through the opening.
Speaking on injuries and attitude
Injuries can damage a team and diminish performance, and ultimately result in loss. I equate injuries to losing any of our players to death, public scandals, political censure, incarceration, removal from office, blackmail, etc. We must protect all players at all times and also know when to substitute players as to avoid fatigue and burnout.
Attitude is everything. We can’t have any showboats that operate out of arrogance, selfishness, and ego. Ball-hogging is not allowed. We have no time or room for “Willie Beaman,” like on “Any Given Sunday.” Know when to pass off on a lateral to another teammate that can execute or finish the play if you’re coming under heat or see a better opportunity arising to score.
Speaking on Fumbles and Turnovers
Fear, uncertainty, unpreparedness, failure to pay attention, and failure to communicate, often lead to fumbles, drops, and turnovers. This affords the opposing team an opportunity to capitalize on our mistakes. This is like failed legislation that should be specifically pertinent for the advancement and empowerment of blacks but somehow gets used against us and empowers everyone else. An example of this is affirmative action. We dropped the ball on that and everyone else benefits from it.
And for God’s sake STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF EACH OTHER WHEN WE’RE ABOUT TO SCORE!
I could go on and on but that would be too long if I elucidated all positions and different plays, but think about it. Once again, this is just me building and adding on to Brother Amefika Gueka (shouts out to you).
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