Chicago Tonight: Black Voices

Jahmal Cole on Bringing Basketball Back to Parks

Clip: 5/26/2023 | 2m 35sVideo has Closed Captions

Bringing back basketball will help make Chicago's streets safer, Jahmal Cole says.

Aired 05/26/2023 | Rating NR

Chicago Tonight: Black Voices

Jahmal Cole on Bringing Basketball Back to Parks

Clip: 5/26/2023 | 2m 35sVideo has Closed Captions

Bringing back basketball will help make Chicago's streets safer, Jahmal Cole says.

In recent years, basketball nets and even rims in some Chicago parks have been removed, leaving kids who want to play without a shot — and Jahmal Cole says that's not fair.

Aired 05/26/2023 | Rating NR

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>>> SUMMER IN CHICAGO IS WHEN PARKS COME ALIVE WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS AND ESPECIALLY PLAYING SPORTS.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS BASKETBALL NETS AND EVEN SOME RIMS AT SOME CITY PARKS LEAVING KIDS WANTING TO PLAY WITHOUT A SHOT.

HERE HE GIVES THE LAST WORD ON WHY HE SAYS BRINGING BACK BASKETBALL PARKS OR BASKETBALL BACK TO PARKS WILL LEAD TO A SAFER SPACE.

>> MY NAME IS JAMAL.

WE ARE A SOCIAL IMPACT ORGANIZATION.

OUR MISSION IS TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT.

I AM AT COLUMBUS PARK BECAUSE IT IS SUMMERTIME.

IN ALL OF CHICAGO WE ARE NOTICING BASKETBALL RIMS BEING TAKEN DOWN.

MORE THAN THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE ANTI-THEFT STEERING WHEEL LOCKS PREVENTING KIDS TO SHOOT.

I DON'T SEE YOU TAKING DOWN THE VOLLEYBALL NETS OR SOCCER NETS BUT YOU ARE PUTTING STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON BASKETBALL RIMS, THAT IS NOT FAIR.

AND PARKS BELONG TO EVERYONE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FIND THE NEXT PLAYER IF YOU CAN NOT PLAYSTREET BALL, RIGHT?

I LOVE BASKETBALL.

IT BROUGHT ME AROUND THE WORLD.

I WITH TONIGHT COLLEGE, I GOT A BUSINESS DEGREE BUT IT STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL IN THE PARK.

IT IS A GOOD WAY TO MAKE FRIENDS, BUILD LEADER SLP, LEARN TO BE ON TIME AND MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOU RECOGNIZE PEOPLE AND HAVE SMALL TALK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS WHAT THE PARKS ARE FOR.

TAKING THE NETS DOWN DOES NOT MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER BUT PUTTING THEM BACK UP COULD BE THE START TO A COMMUNITY.

40, 60 KIDS A DAY CAN BE PLAYING AT THOSE COURTS.

THAT IS KEEPING 40 OR 60 KIDS OUT OF GANGS, TROUBLE, OUT OF BREAKING INTO YOUR CRIB.

THAT IS GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO DO, FOR REALS, WE HEAR ABOUT CARJACKINGS GOING ON, THEY ARE ON THE COURT AND THEY ARE NOT BREAKING INTO CARS AND PqñPLE LIKE ME CAN MENTOR THEM.

WE HAVE A SAFE STREET BALL INITIATIVE, RAISING MONEY FOR NETS AND HOOPS, LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT NEEDS A NEW RIM, DONATE TO THE INITIATIVE.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO HAPPEN.

WE WILL WORK WITH YOUR COMMUNITY AND THE PARK DISTRICT, FRIENDS OF THE PARKS, A COUPLE OF YOUR FRIENDS, MY FRIENDS, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO PLAYSTREET BALL AND HAVE A HEALTHY, SAFE SUMMER.

IF YOU SEE ME ON THE COURT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, PLAY 32 WITH