Yes, It Fits

Class was lively and engaging this morning. We discussed theory, therapy, and the application of various theories to larger contexts and institutions of power and privilege that impact the lives of people. Then, there is sports talk radio and tv, talking about the same thing.

The same thing? Yes, the same thing. Two universities, one of them my alma mater, the University of Mississippi, and Texas A & M, both quickly hired new coaches, apparently without considering minority candidates. At a time when somewhere close of 55% is the make up of African American football players on our nation's 119 or so university football teams, only 6 universities have hired Black coaches. The National Black Coaches Association is up in arms. Rightfully so.

The NFL has the "Rooney Rule" which says that a team must interview a minority candidate for each head coach position to be filled. It's been called a "dog and pony show," one that is disingenuous, but some say that it ultimately works for Black coaches down the line.

I think it's time for the NCAA to institute a similar requirement.

I also think it's time to move beyond dog and pony shows toward interviews and decisions that are substantive and respectful of all of God's children, every color dark or light, so the song lyrics go.