Midnight Basketball Race Sports And Neoliberal Social Policy
Midnight basketball is a sports program that was introduced in the United States in the 1980s. The program was aimed at providing an avenue for young people to engage in positive activities during late hours when criminal activities were prevalent. The program was mainly targeted at young males in inner cities who were at risk of getting involved in crime and drug abuse.
The program was started as part of the neoliberal social policy that aimed at reducing crime rates in inner cities. Neoliberalism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for free-market capitalism and minimal government intervention in social and economic issues.
History of Midnight Basketball
The Midnight Basketball League was started in 1986 in Glenarden, Maryland. The program was initiated by G. Van Standifer, who was the police chief of Glenarden at the time. The program was aimed at reducing crime rates in the city by providing an avenue for young people to engage in positive activities during late hours when criminal activities were prevalent.
The program was successful in reducing crime rates in Glenarden, and it was soon adopted by other cities across the United States. By 1994, more than 60 cities in the United States had implemented the Midnight Basketball program.
Neoliberal Social Policy and Midnight Basketball
The Midnight Basketball program was part of the neoliberal social policy that aimed at reducing crime rates in inner cities. Neoliberalism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for free-market capitalism and minimal government intervention in social and economic issues.
Neoliberalism advocates for individual responsibility and self-reliance, and it views government intervention in social and economic issues as a hindrance to economic growth and individual freedom. The Midnight Basketball program was aimed at providing an avenue for young people to engage in positive activities and to take responsibility for their actions.
Impact of Midnight Basketball on Crime Rates
The Midnight Basketball program was successful in reducing crime rates in cities where it was implemented. A study conducted by the National Institute of Justice in 1994 found that crime rates in cities that had implemented the program had decreased by up to 35 percent.
The program was successful in reducing crime rates because it provided an avenue for young people to engage in positive activities during late hours when criminal activities were prevalent. The program also provided young people with mentorship and guidance, which helped to prevent them from getting involved in criminal activities.
Criticism of Midnight Basketball
The Midnight Basketball program has been criticized by some people who view it as a band-aid solution to the problem of crime in inner cities. Critics argue that the program does not address the root causes of crime in inner cities, such as poverty, lack of education, and discrimination.
Critics also argue that the program is expensive and that the money could be better spent on programs that address the root causes of crime in inner cities. Critics also argue that the program is not sustainable in the long term and that it does not provide young people with the skills and resources needed to succeed in life.
Conclusion
The Midnight Basketball program was successful in reducing crime rates in cities where it was implemented. The program provided young people with an avenue to engage in positive activities during late hours when criminal activities were prevalent. The program also provided mentorship and guidance to young people, which helped to prevent them from getting involved in criminal activities.
However, the program has been criticized by some people who view it as a band-aid solution to the problem of crime in inner cities. Critics argue that the program does not address the root causes of crime in inner cities, such as poverty, lack of education, and discrimination.