It Will Never Stop

I remember many encounters with racism as a boy living in the state of Texas. But one particular instance stands out more than most of them.

I was a Jr in high school playing on the varsity basketball team. One of our games was in Pasadena, Texas which was known as KKK headquarters. We were a 12 man team made of 6 Blacks, 3 whites, 2 Mexicans, and 1 Asian. My coaches were all white.

We got on the bus headed to our game. For us it was like any other game, we knew we were going to win.
When we arrived to the school the bus took a detour and took us around back. At the time we didn't know much nor did it bother us, we were ready to play ball. We got off the bus went into the locker to get ready to play. As we came out of the locker room and into the gym, the noise was unbearable and needless to say disrespectful. But we didn't care we was ready to play ball. The game started and immediately it was war. We were fouled (hard), low bridged, tripped, spit on, called nigger, kicked in the butt, and not one foul or technical foul was called. The first quarter was hell and yet we were up by 10 points. It got so bad that the white, Mexican, and asian players refused to play but the black players wasn't going to lay down that easy.

So we decided, forget these plays and let's do street ball. We knew how to foul and play dirty without getting a call. Elbows flying and people flying. We had 30 fouls to use (5 a pieces for each player) and were going to use them all that nite. At the end of the first half, some of us had scratches, bloody noses, scraped knees, and hurting all over. But we didn't care, we were winning by 30 points at the half.

When we got into the locker room my coach through a fit about our style of play basically saying we let them get into our head. But we didn't care we wanted to play ball, they were playing dirty so we decided to fight back and we were winning by 30 points.

We got mad at the coach because we felt he was taking their side especially with him being a white coach. We didn't care that he respected us before all we knew is that right then in the heat of the moment he was an enemy.

We got angry at the white players because we felt it was a setup. We didn't care about the times we ate lunch together, parties together in their hood, visited each other, and so on. All we knew is that right then in the heat of the moment they were enemies.

Finally our coach calmed us down and got our attention with these words: "This is only a game!" Our response was simple: "What!" He said it again: "It's only a game! Now let me explain!"

He said: "This is only a game but a prelude to a real life issue...racism. It will never stop! How you play will determine if you win or lose."

I heard but then again I didn't hear h. But now that I'm older l believe what he was trying to say is this...

Racism will never die in America. However, play the game to win!

I don't usually write about current events. Not sure why I just don't. However, after experiencing what I believe to be racial profiling for myself and following the information about the of murder of Trayvon Martin, I will admit a anger cord struck in my body. But I was quickly reminded of my experience as a Jr n high school..."play the game of life to win".

It will never stop but play to win!

Be angry but sin not is the Christian response. Even in our anger, we're still to be witnesses for God when it's tough.