Lou Harris Poll says 72% of Black high school athletes put education first - Harry Edwards disagrees

Jet, Nov 29, 1993 by Holland. Dobie

"We don't get together as equals in many places in America," Lapchick interjected. "In our racially charged society, this may prove to be the ultimate benefit of sport, finally fulfilling the dream of Jackie Robinson, the baseball hall of famer."

The survey also claimed educators have made headway in the battle against drug and alcohol abuse, mentioning that 65 percent of the student-athlete respondents said sports has enabled them "a great deal" in avoiding drugs; while 60 percent believed that playing sports had the same impact on them in avoiding alcohol.

Edwards countered by saying, "If it's not happening in the community, or in the homes of low-income residents in the inner-city, then it's not happening."

"In my early experiences, the world of sport was littered with broken promises and unfulfilled dreams. This is the best news I have yet seen that sports is finally beginning to deliver on the promises it has made for all these years," Lapchick concluded.