The Curious Case of Black Duke Basketball Players

Former Michigan and NBA guard Jalen Rose made headlines when he referred to the black basketball players are Duke University as "Uncle Toms" in his documentary about the Fab Five.

The term "Uncle Tom" is defined by dictionary.com as "a black man considered by other blacks to be subservient to or to curry favor with whites." In using this phrase, Rose was trying to make a point that the black players on Duke's teams throughout the years have not been real, urban, blacks.

While these comments drew the ire of many, that truth is that this IS the prevailing thought amongst the basketball community. Inner city kids do not root for Duke, instead they look to teams that have recruited those from their neighborhoods, like Georgetown, St. Johns, UCONN, and Kentucky. The views on these schools, among others, are that they will take kids who can play ball, regardless of their background, while Duke is looking for a specific kind of player, like Grant Hill, the son of NFL player and Yale graduate Calvin Hill, and Austin Rivers, son of NBA player and coach Doc Rivers; kids who have a pedigree.

Part of the reason for the "different kind" of black player that goes to Duke is the rigorous academic standards one must pass in order to get into the school, which many inner-city or public school athletes cannot attain. Unlike other basketball powers that have a certain amount of academic exceptions in which to get players that wouldn't otherwise be able to get into the school, all Duke players must meet all normal requirements.

Duke is predominately white and as a private university, the tuition is far greater than any public school, leading to the reality that it is a school made up of mostly privileged students. It is not surprising that some top black basketball players would not fit in at such a place. This feeling is highlighted by current NBA player Elton Brand's letter to Duke student Jennifer Taylor after she sent him a letter bashing him for leaving school early to pursue a career in the NBA. Here are the two letters in full, as published on sportsgrid.com:

From: Taylor, Jennifer
Sent: Friday, April 16, 1999 2:55 PM
To: Brand, Elton
Subject: Leaving Duke

I graduated from Duke last May and just wanted to express my disgust for your decision to leave the Duke program after only two years. As an alum, not only do I hold the school in high regard, but the basketball program as well, especially since both have deservedly garnered such a great deal of respect for their accomplishments.

As part of our basketball program, you represent Duke as a whole. We are first and foremost an academic school, you clearly did not belong at Duke in the first place if this was the extent of your commitment to Duke and a college education in general. You have not only insulted the current students who are putting in four years at a school they love, but also the thousands of alumni who have realized the value of a Duke education and what an honor and privilege it was to be there for four years.

If you do not realize the opportunity you has infront of you to play for Coach K and at the same time attain a Duke diploma, then that is certainly your loss. I just wish that you has spared us the notion that you were continuing in the tradition of being a Duke student-athlete, in emphasizing excellence in both academics and athletics. You will not be considered part of the Duke family, in my mind as well as many others. You have by no means proved yourself worthy of that title.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Taylor

From: Elton Tyron Brand
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 1999 8:05 PM
To: Taylor, Jennifer
Subject: Re: Leaving Duke

Thank you very much, for reminding me of the reason why I left Duke. People like you can not and will not ever understand my situation. I’m sure daddy worked very hard to send your rich self to college. While real people struggle. I would also like to extend an invitation for you not to waste your or my time ever agin. Never being considered a part of your posh group of yuppies really hurts me to the heart. Yeah, right. Because I don’t care about you or your alumni.

Sincerely,
Elton Brand #42 NBA


I rest my case.

- Andrew Emmer