I think a vast majority of us on this board played-at least-in High School and some, college ball. Outside of combat can you think of anything that mixes races better than football? Other sports to an extent too.
My high school years came only a few years after integration. One of my very young coaches, my Sr season was one of the first blacks to attend Charlotte. I'm proud to say Charlotte High School, was one of the first high schools to integrate in the state of Florida, before it became the law.
Me and another middle class white kid, our WR, worked three summers with 15 black guys on a sod crew. That was some tough ass manual labor. Those older black guys accepted us because we played ball with their younger brothers and nephews. I learned a lot about their culture, I'd trade quail I shot to "Grass James" for a Pork Chop sandwich for lunch. They'd provide life advice and always the message to stay out of trouble, even though many of them had not.
Those experiences set me up for life, in short, working for a common goal made you forget about the other crap surrounding you. I remember our school had an issue and all the blacks and whites were lined up ready to go, all the athletes were on one end, and we told each other we weren't going to be part of it. It was like the scene in Remember the Titans (same era portrayed). Fortunately cooler heads prevailed. I sure never thought coming from the 60s and 70s we'd be rehashing the same damn issues a half century later. We're a damn flawed species.
My high school years came only a few years after integration. One of my very young coaches, my Sr season was one of the first blacks to attend Charlotte. I'm proud to say Charlotte High School, was one of the first high schools to integrate in the state of Florida, before it became the law.
Me and another middle class white kid, our WR, worked three summers with 15 black guys on a sod crew. That was some tough ass manual labor. Those older black guys accepted us because we played ball with their younger brothers and nephews. I learned a lot about their culture, I'd trade quail I shot to "Grass James" for a Pork Chop sandwich for lunch. They'd provide life advice and always the message to stay out of trouble, even though many of them had not.
Those experiences set me up for life, in short, working for a common goal made you forget about the other crap surrounding you. I remember our school had an issue and all the blacks and whites were lined up ready to go, all the athletes were on one end, and we told each other we weren't going to be part of it. It was like the scene in Remember the Titans (same era portrayed). Fortunately cooler heads prevailed. I sure never thought coming from the 60s and 70s we'd be rehashing the same damn issues a half century later. We're a damn flawed species.
