Dennis: He overcame all odds to become a professional basketball player. Today on Passages Mel of the Harlem Globetrotters reflects.

Mel: Every action is a reaction. White kids aren't born to hate black kids. Black kids aren't born to hate white kids.

Dennis: This is Passage. I'm Dennis Benson. This professional basketball player knows the difficulties of shaking off hate.

Mel: It's taught in the family. Especially inner-city youth. Their dads are probably in jail. So they're single parents so the mother is really mad. The mother brings all the frustration on the children which pushes them away to the streets.

Dennis: Mel's dad was important to him.

Mel: I think that the role of the father is really important because kids need to see that because a lot of time our view of God is from the view of our own earthly father.

Dennis: Sometimes parents try too hard.

Mel: A lot of parents work a lot because they try to make money, but a lot of money can buy a nice dog, but love will make it wag it's tail.

Dennis: Mel overcame the fact that he was five foot eight.

Mel: My dad was very instrumental in my life because he spent a lot of time with me. He showed me he loved me so when he whipped me, I knew it was out of respect, so it's a big responsibility for a father in the family.

Dennis: Mel's compassion is a challenge from your Presbyterian and United Methodist friends.

© Copyright by Dennis C. Benson, (616) 399-0432