The Jackie Robinson West baseball team being stripped of their national title has really taken the air of us as a people. We are hurt, frustrated and talking about the “travesty of injustice” throughout barber shops, beauty salons, house parties, social media and more.

However, I contend we have many more important issues to take on as a people and community. You are frustrated and hurt for these babies. I get it, but think about all the energy, joint outrage, protest, arguing and energy we are spending, but won’t (collectively) for the issues below.

Here is a SHORT list of things I feel we need to need to show the same levels of outrage, frustration and solidarity for as a community that we are giving to the Jackie Robinson West Little League Baseball Team.

School to Prison Pipeline

Michelle Alexander broke all of this down in “The New Jim Crow”, but unfortunately most of you probably didn’t read it. You mad over a baseball game, but they grooming your children for jail and you don’t even to seem to notice, let alone care. But I guess that ain’t none of my business, huh?

Piss Poor Educational Standards in the Black Community

Unless you have been under a rock the last 50 years, you are well aware the educational system in the black community SUCKS! And yes, that is the technical term. Admittedly, the educational system across the country is pretty bad, but there is no doubt it is much worse in our communities. Our children still use outdated text books, techniques, have the worse teachers and the list goes on and on, but where is the COLLECTIVE outrage?

Lack of Entrepreneurial Support

The thing that really irks me about the black community is lack of support for our entrepreneurs and the down right refusal to understand why community economics is important. I won’t go into that lesson today, but black entrepreneurs face a heck of an uphill battle trying to find a strong, supportive black consumer base.

I’m not saying support piss poor black businesses just because they are black, but there are wonderful entrepreneurs out there in the community that need you. The crazy thing is you need them, but don’t even know it.

Lack of Economic Opportunity for Teens & Adults

Part of the reason teens and adults lack economic opportunity in our community is because we don’t support the entrepreneurs in the community trying to business with us. There are no black people with businesses in the community, they can’t hire black people. And what are all the immigrants that own businesses in the community doing? They are hiring their people, not us.

Lack of Economic Opportunity for Teens & Adults

Part of the reason teens and adults lack economic opportunity in our community is because we don’t support the entrepreneurs in the community trying to business with us. There are no black people with businesses in the community, they can’t hire black people. And what are all the immigrants that own businesses in the community doing? They are hiring their people, not us.

The lack of entrepreneurial support is connected to this issue. Oh yes, it runs much deeper, but that is for another discussion at another time.

The Black Unemployment Rate

Is anyone paying attention to the black unemployment rate? I know it is difficult to guage because we only get the watered down national unemployment rate. However, just go into our communities around the country from 10am to 2pm, which are prime working hours for most people, and tell me what you find.

You find clusters of unemployed people. It is an unfortunately reality that we experience in the black community. The sad part is more and more of these people (maybe not hanging out on the corners) are college educated, degreed people who were suppose to be getting part of the American Dream.

In fact, there are studies out now that show a black person with a college degree is more likely to be unemployed or make about as much as a white person with a high school diploma. And y’all want me to be outraged over a little league baseball game?

The Violence in the Black Community

I don’t even think we need to go any further with this one. The violence in our community is out of control. And yes, i’m well aware of the mis-education, economic disadvantage, lack of education and history that is contributing to this nonsense, but the reality of it is still the same. It plagues our community like no other, but all of this is tied to many of the issues i’ve listed above.

No Knowledge of Our Long & Storied History

Finally, I will end with our lack of knowledge of self and our deep, rich, and beautiful history. Sure, the educational system isn’t giving it to us by design, but where are we at home, in the community, in the church, the nonprofit organizations? It is our history, why not pass it down to the next generation or hell, learn it ourselves?

Clearly, i’m the contrarian of the UI writing team in the black community and rather unpopular as your comments, notes and inboxes have indicated, but that isn’t my concern. My concern is hitting you with the truth, right between the eyes….at least how I see it, but enough of me ranting on and on.

Let’s hear from you.

SOUND OFF: What do you think of the JRW outrage and my take on other issues we should be more concerned with as a community?