Summary

In the article “Delusions of Grandeur,” Henry Louis Gate Junior argues that there is a general belief that African Americans can only succeed in sports even though there are many blacks who are successful in other careers. Gates goes ahead to support his argument using statistical evidence to show that there are more blacks in other professions such as law and medicine compared to black athletes. He argues that adults and youths believe that the only way an African American can be successful is through dribbling or catching a ball.

According to the author, the delusion denies many blacks an opportunity to explore other avenues such as academics that can open doors in other professions other than sports. Gates goes ahead to blame the public schooling system that use black athletes to glorify the names of the schools but fail to reciprocate the glory by providing them with the proper education to prepare them for other professions. The author concludes by encourages blacks who are successful in other fields such as teaching, medicine, and law to engage in activities aimed at promoting education for other professions. Gates argues that society is responsible for changing the trend beginning with the school system.

Critique

The article by “Delusions of Grandeur” by Gate Junior exposes the reality of African American youths. Gates main message in the passage is the fact that the society through schools use African American children and young adults to win sports trophies under the illusion that they are likely to become great and successful sportsmen and women in future. The argument exposes the black community schools that do not motivate the students academically to join colleges and pursue other careers. This is a reality considering the number of African American youth in the various basketball and football leagues, not to mention school teams. Gates sensitizes and compels society to provide African American youth with an opportunity to pursue other careers that do not involve sport as a profession. He urges the nation to encourage the black child to pursue careers such as law, education, and medicine by providing examples of African Americans who are successful in the professions other than sports such as Doctor Benjamin Carson.

Gatescompares the African American dream of becoming professional athletes to winning a lottery, which is a clear indication that they have a very slim chance of making it to national leagues such as football and basketball. He uses the statistical comparison of the number of African Americans in other professions to enlighten and motivate the black youth that they can be successful in other areas and that sport is not the only way to success. In his statistics, the number of black individuals in other professions are more than the number of black athletes. For instance, black lawyers are twelve times more than African American professional athletes.

In conclusion, Gates argument is essential in creating awareness of the illusion that African Americans can only be successful through sports. Besides, it enlightens the black youth to pursue other careers that are more lucrative such as law and medicine by providing examples of blacks who are successful in the professions. The article emphasizes the fact that not only blacks but all Americans should be aware of the possibility of African Americans succeeding others in careers apart from sport.

 
Do you need high quality Custom Essay Writing Services?