Black history month is here and we still have a long way to go

By L.A. Batchelor
sports.yourblackworld.com
labatchelor@blackathlete.com

NC-February is here and that means it's Black History Month. A time to reflect back and pay homage to those African Americans and others who've shaped the past of the plight of Blacks in this country.

Although we could be on the brink of history with Senator Barack Obama and his quest for the Democratic Nomination, we as Black people still have a ways to go in many areas when it comes to jobs. You can look no further than college and pro football.

Both The NCAA and The NFL continue to practice exclusion in the "good ole boy" club despite attempts to implement and enforce various rules and programs on Colleges and teams in The NFL. Currently, The NCAA has only six Division 1 African-American head football coaches, and The NFL has only six. These numbers are a far cry from college basketball and The NBA which have 34 and 12 respectively. The worst league of all when it comes to hiring practices is Major League Baseball, which currently has three black head coaches.

To add insult to injury, even though two white assistant coaches passed up on head coaching jobs offered to them, there were still no qualified and experienced African Americans considered for the coaching vacancies in each city. Jason Garrett, Offensive Coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys decided not to leave the team after he was considered a candidate for the head coaching position in Atlanta. That job was eventually given to Mike Smith, an assistant with Jacksonville with some experience. But this was not as much experience as long time assistant coach and now Hall of Famer Emmitt Thomas. Thomas was the interim coach for the last few games of the season for The Atlanta Falcons. Thomas is well liked and respected by his peers and players, yet he continues to be the "Best Man" and never "The Groom".

The Washington Redskins still don't have a head coach after Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo decided to stay with the team to become the highest paid Defensive Coordinator in the NFL. So Spagnuolo decides he isn't interested in the Redskins position. Who is the front runner for the job? Another re-tread..........Jim Fassel.

When is this disturbing trend going to change? It will change when enough of us are so angry and outraged that we take our frustrations and disgust out on a sports society that condones this blatant racial practice. When we push the masses so hard, they are forced to re-examine their exclusionary practices. When we protest these sports plantations by keeping our money in our pockets and not attending games to deplete the owners bank accounts. When we realize change starts with us and our mentality. The belief that we are as intelligent, talented, gifted, hard working and dedicated as our white counterparts. The belief that we must bring awareness to the disease of racism.

The struggle continues................