There is little doubt about the role American football has in the national psyche. It has been compared to warfare, soap operas, and even ballet. It has also been compared to slavery. It was that comparison that led to the removal of a celebrated national football broadcast analyst from a pre-game television show.
Who was Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder?
Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder was a once a Las Vegas gambler who rose to national prominence as a commentator on the NFL Today show. But it was his comments to a reporter in a Washington D.C. restaurant that reopened an old wound. He was asked to “prognosticate” the future of blacks in the NFL. Snyder commented that whites needed to maintain their presence in the sport’s coaching and management ranks since black athletes would eventually dominate every position on the field.
“Why?” Snyder was asked. His response set off a firestorm that led to his unceremonious benching by the network’s executives. “The black is a better athlete to begin with because he’s been bred that way.” He continued, “This goes all the way back to the Civil War when during slave trading, the owner – the slave owner would breed his big black to his big woman so that he could have a big black kid.”
Synder was not fired for misrepresenting history (even though there are still historians that would have us believe that slave breeding never existed, and if it did exist it certainly did not happen on any conceivable scale). However, there is evidence that blacks were indeed bred. That evidence comes from the former slaves themselves.
“I was there”: Comments from Ex-Slaves
Rose Williams remembered being purchased on the auction block for the expressed purpose of breeding. Her new owner informed her that, “I’s pay big money for you and I’s done that for de cause I wants you to raise me chillens. I’s put you to live with Rufus for dat purpose. Now, if you doesn’t want whippin’ at de stake, yous do what I wants.”
William Mathews commented that “If a unhealthy buck take up with a portly gal, de white folks sep’rate ‘em. If a man a big, stout man, good breed, dey gives him four, five women.” Likewise, Henry Buttler confirmed that the master wanted a near perfect physical specimen to increase his profits when he said, “The slaves were allowed to marry but were compelled to first obtain permission from the master. The main factor involved in securing the master’s consent was his desire to rear Negroes with perfect physiques.” Lastly, when asked about her father, Julia Malone said, “He was make de husband to lots of women on de place, ‘cause he de big man.”
Have Pro Athletes Become the New Slaves?
Slaves were bred because of their inherent economic profit - more black kids meant more labor which meant more profit. In other words, the mere existence of slaves meant millions to the owner. Well what does this history lesson have to do with football and Jimmy “the Greek” Snyder?
Everything! Blacks are still making the owners millions of dollars. Except these owners don’t own plantations they own professional sports teams. Of course there are many blacks that have made millions. But even the worst businessman will tell you that the owner only pays his employees less than 30 percent of his profits. So even if one star running back or one stud point guard receives $10 million per year, how much do you think the owner is pocketing?
Snyder was fired for telling the truth. But the tragedy is that thousands of black youths will continue packing the middle and high school football fields and basketball courts believing their only way to prosperity, and a house worthy of MTV Cribs, is in becoming the next Reggie Bush, Vince Young, or Derrick Rose. Unfortunately, our society would be better served if we not only admire god-given athletic talents, but also the talents of math, spelling and science. Its OK to be the next Bush or Young, and it’s just as OK to be the next Bernard Harris or Mae Jemison.
References
Henry Buttler, Slave Narratives, Box 4H359, University of Texas, Center for American History (Hereinafter cited as CAH-UT Austin).
Julia Malone, Slave Narratives, CAH-UT Austin.
Rose Williams, Slave Narratives, CAH-UT Austin.
White, Jack. 1988. Of Mandingo and Jimmy “the Greek.” Time, Feb 1.
William Mathews, Slave Narratives, CAH-UT Austin.
