The late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. referred to a perception of the options for urban males in the song “Things Done Changed” by saying that “the streets is a short shop. Either you’re slingin’ crack rock, or you got a wicked jump shot.” He was articulating a part of the sense of economic desperation that many people feel when their options for financial prosperity seem to be extremely limited. When “conventional” routes seem to be closed off, a narrow focus on the routes that appear to be more open like athletics can be heightened.
When economic conditions are extreme, one can feel more inclined to go to more extreme measures to survive and prosper. One of these extreme measures can be an elevated level of athletic performance with the hopes that it will be a vehicle to elevate their financial status. The concept of economic desperation is not one that is based only on anecdotal stories. There is a mountain of wealth data that paints a clear picture of the economic state of Black America.
The data is conclusive that the economic conditions of Black people in America are extreme when compared to other groups. A report entitled The Economic State of Black America: What is and What Could Be “ estimated “a $300 billion disparity between Black and white families in the annual flow of new wealth, some 60 percent of which comes from intergenerational transfers. Every year there is a massive intergenerational transfer of family wealth, creating an effect that is both profound and self-perpetuating. Black families are less likely to receive inheritances, and when they do, the amounts are smaller. The gap in inheritances between Black and white recipients is some $200 billion annually.”
In addition, the Harvard Business Review estimates that there is “a $220 billion annual wage disparity with Black workers concentrated in lower-wage jobs, underrepresented in higher-paying occupations, and paid less, on average, than white workers in the same occupational categories, especially in managerial and leadership roles.”
The fragility of the low wage market leaves people living with a sense of desperation. This often entails long stints of unemployment, underemployment, and employment discrimination. This may entice people to go into the underground economy to meet basic needs. There is also a portion of students who come from low socioeconomic backgrounds who grow up with a feeling of inadequacy that can last throughout adulthood. Economic deprivation has the capacity to crush the self-esteem of students, parents, and communities.
An argument can be made that that there is simply more at stake on average for Black athletes because of the economic conditions of Black people in the United States. The stakes are raised and there can be the impression that more is on the line. This enhances the allure of the “athletic lottery” as a “way out” and many young people see sports as their best route to a college scholarship.
The term “athletic lottery” is a reference to the small percentage of athletes who receive college athletic scholarships or professional contracts versus the very large number of people who are vying for them. This usage of the term in this piece is not intended to diminish the dedication and hard work that athletes put toward honing their skills and talent.
