It's troubling that so many adults, including Mary Mitchell and Rick Telander, feel that we need more sports programs to keep "Kids with nothing to do" from getting into trouble. For starters, they can stop trying to be like Mike or Derrick Rose and pick up a book. They can spend an afternoon in a library or a museum to learn how to read and write. They can start listening to their teachers, who just might get through to them that there is more to life than winning a game with a round ball. If none of that interests them, then maybe volunteering to hand out food packages for the needy will.
We African-American adults have a moral responsibility to our youths to demand, not suggest, that they do right. We don't have to look fare for models of good behavior among America's youths. Chicago's black parents should look in the mirror and ask themselves: Why aren't there Asian-American "mobs" terrorizing people on downtown streets? Why do Asian kids manage to do well in our (public) schools and black kids don't? Why aren't jails and prisons filled with Asian kids? I'm convinced we know the answers.
Earl Smith, South Shore
