Gaston, J. C. (1986). The Destruction Of The Young Black Male: The Impact Of Popular Culture And Organized Sports.Journal of Black Studies, 16(4), 369-384.

The negative influences of popular culture & professional sports on black youths struggling for a positive self-concept are discussed. It is argued that the young black M’s identification with media & other “cool” role models fosters an unrealistic view of reality, “hustler” values, & an orientation to “just getting by.” These perceptions eventually lead to poor self-esteem when the black youth is finally forced to accept the reality that he has no skills for earning money. The media portrayal of professional sports is examined as a reinforcement of young black Ms’ fantasies of becoming a star. Their vision becomes limited & they see high school as a step toward the National Basketball Assoc (NBA) rather than as a means of obtaining education. Former professional athletes who were victims of this myopia are profiled. It is concluded that the black community must demand quality education for young black Ms in order to protect the future of the black family. 14 References. K. Carande

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http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/002193478601600402?journalCode=jbsa