Little League World Series Images

Some suggest that image is everything.  I will suggest that images are everything.  Over the last few weeks America, via the national news outlets, has been able to view images of young Black athletes from Chicago and Philadelphia play in the Little League World Series.  The Taney Dragons from Philadelphia and the Jackie Robinson West team from Chicago captivated the attention of both baseball connoisseurs and those who could care less about the game.  These teams dominated media attention in an event that traditionally has not seen a lot of Black participation.

The images that we saw were of young boys and girls having fun, being committed, being skilled, being disciplined.  But more important were the images of the parents who supported and encouraged these children.  Parents who sacrificed so that their children could have this opportunity.

These are the images of the Black experience in America that are not portrayed nearly enough in the national media.  We in the community know that the efforts of these parents is not unique.  Indeed, Black parents work as hard and sacrifice as much as any other parent of any other ethnicity, but unfortunately, the media rarely offers those stories and images opting instead for the sensational.

We know that the media is driven by economics.  Those images that grab attention are the ones used to sell newspapers and commercials.  Too many times those images of the Black experience in America are not uplifting, but in the coverage of Taney of Philadelphia and Jackie Robinson West of Chicago, the images were good.  The images were positive.  And the images sold a lot of newspapers and commercials.

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