Black Coaches

"A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business." -Eric Hoffer, philosopher and author (1902-1983)


A group of black college coaches are complaining about the small percentage of black coaches in college. The group thinks affirmative action may be the only way to solve the disparity. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14938013/ I have heard other supporters of hiring more black coaches as saying there should be more black coaches because there are so many black players. To this I say there needs to be more white players.

As of 2000, nearly 1 in 7 employed white men worked in their own business, as compared with about 1 in 18 employed African American men. Why are black leaders not calling for more blacks to start their own business?

A small business will become your master. It requires long hours and commitment. A small business will consume the owner. Only a handful of small businesses survive more than five years. Individual accountability is front and center. The owner must deal with the jungle of laws and regulations that burdens a business. These laws are local, state and federals. Occupational Health and Safety, Equal Employment, IRS, liability, etc.

The small business owner must learn accounting, marketing, production, and all aspects of the work place to survive.

A small business owner cannot fire an employee without cause, but an employee can fire an owner without cause.

Contrast the challenges of a small business owner to that of an employee, who is by law protected from the employer, and you see why there is no pressure by black or women leaders to require an equal population ratio of their group to be small business owners. It is much easier to be an employee and demand someone else provide you with pay, vacation, health coverage, pensions, and a lunch break. Many small business owners are under so much pressure they cannot take a vacation or lunch break.

The Small Business Administration makes loans available to minorities and offers special assistance and training to them, but, there are no requirements from the EEOC for there to be a percentage of minorities as owners of small businesses.

Bilbo Baggins