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The myth of the natural black athlete is widespread, though it's
usually talked about only when a sports commentator or celebrity
embarrasses himself by bringing it up in public. Those gaffes are
swiftly decried as racist, but apart from their link to the long
history of ugly racial stereotypes about black people--especially
men--they are also harmful because they obscure very real,
hard-fought accomplishments. As "Black Men Can't Shoot
"demonstrates, such successes on the basketball court don't happen
just because of natural gifts--instead, they grow out of the long,
tough, and unpredictable process of becoming a known player.
Scott Norman Brooks spent four years coaching summer league
basketball in Philadelphia. And what he saw, heard, and felt
working with the young black men on his team tells us much about
how some kids are able to make the extraordinary journey from the
ghetto to the NCAA. He tells the story of two young men, Jermaine
and Ray, following them through their high school years and
chronicling their breakthroughs and frustrations on the court as
well as their troubles at home. "Black Men Can't Shoot" is a moving
coming-of-age story that counters the belief that basketball only
exploits kids and lures them into following empty dreams--and shows
us that by playing ball, some of these young black men have already
begun their education even before they get to college.
"As students of culture, ethnographers must have curiosity,
openness, and humility - three traits vital for 'getting
with'people. But how do ethnographers go about developing
relationships with people in the field? And how do they learn from
these people so they can conduct a systematic study of the culture?
"These key questions can best be answered by sharing field
experiences among a diverse group of ethnographers. Yet researchers
often become so embedded in the extensive data collections,
analysis, and writing that the opportunity rarely occurs to share
experiences, fieldwork, and current projects. Leading ethnographers
recognized the need for a forum where information could be
exchanged. "The major ethnography conference (held at the
University of Pennsylvania in November 2003) presented by
established ethnographers along with graduate students the chance
to participate in an exciting format where works-in-progress could
be shared. This intimate setting built a bridge to take ethnography
into the future while reestablishing ties to scholarly roots."
Using the Chicago School and its emphasis on 'bringing back the
news' from unknown or misknown social worlds as a foundation, these
conferences created a buzz where information was freely shared and
ethnographers connected. The University of Pennsylvania conference
became the springboard for the articles in this special volume of
The ANNALS. "Contemporary ethnography is much too large, too
diverse, too contentious to be represented in its entirety in a
single collection of articles. However, this weighty volume
represents a distinctive approach to ethnography that seeks to
engage, reassert, and reassess three recurring themes found in
classic Chicago-style fieldwork:"I. The focus on discovery, rather
than on theory or method"II. 'Loyalty to the phenomenon' -
emphasizing what people are actually doing versus what theory
suggests people are doing"III. The collection of original data, as
well as the collection of ethnographic data in original ways"This
unique volume offers the rare chance to learn what ethnographers
are doing in the field as well as the different approaches taken
and styles used in conducting fieldwork.It also provides poignant
insight for public policy students and practitioners. "The articles
included in this volume reflect a wide range of stories and
researchers from around the country and around the world. Taken
together they provide the big picture of the challenges and boons
of fieldwork and examined experiences.
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