Thank you to everyone who joined me today for another conversation with Gary F. Green II, PhD about his book, Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance Beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport.
We had over 200 Black folks in the building for the Live, a record high for the Blackstack Salon and as I like to say, A TIME WAS HAD! But don’t take my word for it, the streets are already talking about it.
Per usual, we kicked off with a guided meditation to get us grounded. This might be our new favorite because everyone was asking for the link, I need us to commit to listening to this guided meditation every day for the next 30 days and see how our love for ourselves and others change.
After you finish listening, there is a writing prompt for you to journal.
Journal Prompt: What do you love the most about yourself as a Black person?
In the Preface, Gary F. Green II, PhD walks us into a particular caricature, I asked him to tell us a little bit about the specific caricature that he wanted to highlight in this book?
Journal Prompt: What other caricatures do you see playing in our face?
In Chapter One: The Myth of Level Playing Fields, Gary F. Green II, PhD has a section titled “The political problem with seeing (race)”, I asked him to tell us a little bit about why that section was important and the significance for it to be placed in this particular?
Journal Prompt: What is the political problem with seeing (race)?
In Chapter Two: Marshawn Lynch “Beast” and the Historical Play on “Human”, Gary F. Green II, PhD discusses the caricature of “beast” in the section, “Intersectionally marked, beast” to give context to our earlier discussion (tap in to the replay for the conversation had to follow), I asked him to talk to us a little bit about the intersection he was connecting in that part of the book.
Journal Prompt: How are you reclaiming pleasure in 2026 as Black people?
Our final Book Club study session is scheduled for Sunday, February 15th via Zoom. We will be discussing the book as a whole with a focus on Chapters Three through Five, specifically. Grab your book, RSVP for Book Club study, and do us a favor and drop a review to help make sure this book is a stable in every Black household to shift some narratives.
Click the button below for the playlist used for our writing sprints.
