ESPN's "Black Magic" Shows Decline of Black College Basketball is No Illusion

Tales of segregation, separation, and the achievement within these confining evils spun a magical theme of impressive athletes and engaging personalities, telling their stories on the hardwood. This is the impact of ESPN's "Black Magic," a documentary detailing the pride and history associated with black college basketball, and the pain that too often was wrapped tight with its players and coaches. Black or white, we all can appreciate the trials and hardships that were vividly described in interviews, music and footage of the extraordinary talent that once graced the courts of historically black colleges and universities. "Black Magic's" moments of triumph included the stories of black college basketball legends like Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Willis Reed, and Avery Johnson. But with these successes, filmmaker Dan Klores also presented the stark reality faced by many black college athletic programs: The dead appeal of black colleges among elite athletes. Once, black ... (link)