Schooled

The theme of Social and Educational Struggles in Black Urban Communities expands in this section as Lionel reaches a turning point at school. Through Lionel’s thoughts, the text juxtaposes basketball with school to emphasize the protagonist’s frustrations. While basketball has clear rules and is a sport Lionel has a natural affinity for, schoolwork comes much harder because none of Lionel’s teachers ascribe his poor performance to illiteracy and missing skills—instead, they insist that he struggles because of lack of willpower or commitment, which puts the burden for achievement solely on his shoulders. The novel implies that students at under-resourced schools are not given the benefit of the doubt, possibly because of stereotypes about their racial background. Lionel wishes that “school was like basketball” so that he could trick his teacher “into thinking he could read” (57). Instead, he feels “more lost than ever” trying to read Langston Hughes’s poem and writing an essay about the American dream (57). Lionel’s learning difficulties impact his self-worth; however, his decision to memorize the poem with his sister’s help signifies his growing desire to take as much responsibility as he can for his education. As Lionel recites the poem “naturally” and “powerfully” (69), he connects with its ideas. At this point, Lionel equates basketball and school, rather than using them as opposites: When Lionel is content to hear his teacher’s praise, he feels “as if he had just made a game-winning last-second shot” (70). This transformation indicates Lionel’s potential and intellect, and the possibility that he could find belonging in school. The writing task, however, presents a new challenge in his journey; we see from his brief attempt that he lacks even basic skills like spelling common words.

The novel presents several threats hanging over Lionel’s family, underscoring The Importance of Family in Personal Growth. Besides their precarious financial situation and the pain Lionel feels about his parents’ long-term absences, there is now the suggestion that Leroy could be having an affair that might lead to the end of his parents’ marriage. After Leroy’s supposed colleague Denise visits their house, Lionel does not accept his father’s explanations for her overt friendliness and is certain that the “family [is] coming apart” since his mother is “thousand miles away” (89). The emotional, social, and financial instability makes the world feel chaotic to Lionel. The impact of this on his schoolwork cements the connection between home life and teenage development. Lionel experiences guilt about being a poor student and is ashamed that he hid his teacher’s letter and the extent of his problems while his parents think he has begun to study poetry. These bad feelings compound the feelings of worthlessness that accompany failing his writing task. Once again, school feels like a punishment rather than akin to basketball, challenging his personal growth journey.

The novel emphasizes The Significance of Sports for Black Youth as Lionel finds solace on the court after his continual disappointment in class. Lionel feels “the stress of school and home [evaporating]” (81) as he plays alone in the Bluford court. The coach’s invitation to the tryouts signifies a step forward toward Lionel’s goal. Basketball remains central to the process of his personal growth. The sport is empowering, bestowing respect; it also holds the possibility of a better future for himself and his family. Socioeconomic factors underlie Lionel’s basketball dreams: Lionel believes that with an NBA salary, he could help his parents “stop worrying about money” and allow himself to “escape from the streets” (75). 

The motif of dreams underscores Lionel’s complex emotions in this section. As Lionel grapples with his NBA dream, his parents being away from home, and his writing task, the tension is described as a “storm in his mind” (90). In his waking life, dreams are seemingly unattainable: Lionel cannot even write about them in his notebook, where he misspells the word as “dreem.” Lionel’s inability to find balance between his basketball dreams and his education becomes a symbolic nightmare that foreshadows one possible future. Lionel dreams that basketball leads to him shattering into pieces that fall into a “deafening blackness” (92). This imagery of a bottomless abyss that consumes Lionel conveys that he is about to reach a breaking point; he must find courage or allow the obstacles and challenges he faces to destroy his future.