--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have become convinced that we blacks…" description: "\"I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in libraries.\" — Arthur Ashe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/arthur-ashe-8868_blacks_i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-s_940035.png" --- # I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time… ![“I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in libraries.” quote by Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/arthur-ashe-8868_blacks_i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-s_940035.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/arthur-ashe-8868_blacks_i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-s_940035.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/arthur-ashe-8868_blacks_i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-s_940035.png) > “I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in libraries.” [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that Black communities prioritize sports over education, limiting broader opportunities. **In simple terms:** Black people focus too much on sports, not enough on learning. Key Takeaway Balance sports with reading and study. Themes education race community sports opportunity Mood reflective concerned Type call to action social commentary When to use this quote - school curricula - parental guidance - community programs - after‑school tutoring - media representation Key Concepts social equity cultural priorities systemic inequality Questions to Reflect On - How can we encourage reading without devaluing athletic talent? - What policies support both sports and academic excellence? A Different Perspective Sports can provide vital social and economic benefits that education alone may not replace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks/) [Blacks Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks-spend-1599376/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Convinced Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced-blacks-1599377/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Libraries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libraries/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Little time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-time/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Playing fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-fields/) [Spend time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [There is a terrific apprehension among some people that blacks will take over the sport... It will create problems because their behavior, speech and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/there-is-a-terrific-apprehension-among-some-people-that-blacks-will/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Seven out of 10 black faces you see on television are athletes. The black athlete carries the image of the black community. He carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/seven-out-of-10-black-faces-you-see-on-television-are-athletes-the/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [...I spent many, many hours in...libraries. Libraries became courts of last resort, as it were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-spent-many-many-hours-in-libraries-libraries-became-courts-of-last/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Throughout my formal education I spent many, many hours in public and school libraries. Libraries became courts of last resort, as it were. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/throughout-my-formal-education-i-spent-many-many-hours-in-public-and/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Winning is an approach to life. The place it starts is not on the playing field or in the business organization; nor is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/winning-is-an-approach-to-life-the-place-it-starts-is-not-on-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [This is about Americans getting off the sidelines and getting onto the playing field, .. This is about each and every one of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/this-is-about-americans-getting-off-the-sidelines-and-getting-onto/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Environmentally, business in America in 1970 was very similar to business in China today. Even if a CEO wanted to be a responsible corporate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/environmentally-business-in-america-in-1970-was-very-similar-to/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Why do we place such a disproportionate emphasis on sporting achievement? Why doesn't success in other fields receive similar attention... Maybe it's because in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-freedman/why-do-we-place-such-a-disproportionate-emphasis-on-sporting/) [Mia Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-freedman/) > [People are attracted to teaching because they want to make a real impact. The teachers who are making the greatest difference go far beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kopp/people-are-attracted-to-teaching-because-they-want-to-make-a-real/) [Wendy Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kopp/) > [I work in lockstep, hand in glove, with the prime minister on these issues, and as we are supportive to the Eurozone so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-clegg/i-work-in-lockstep-hand-in-glove-with-the-prime-minister-on-these/) [Nick Clegg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-clegg/) > [Nowadays with the internet, it's an equal opportunity brutal playing field. I mean, everyone is brutal to everybody half the time. People can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-thompson/nowadays-with-the-internet-it-s-an-equal-opportunity-brutal-playing/) [Lea Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-thompson/) > [A natural environment is far more complex than any playing field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/a-natural-environment-is-far-more-complex-than-any-playing-field/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [I loved playing in the fields back home and racing with my fellow students on the way to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kom/i-loved-playing-in-the-fields-back-home-and-racing-with-my-fellow/) [Mary Kom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kom/) > [The digital revolution is forever. They put importance on that option as well. With Amazon, you're getting the best of both worlds, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-digital-revolution-is-forever-they-put-importance-on-that-option/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I've been screwed by as many women as I have by men, in terms of lawyers. But lawyers don't count. If you take lawyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/i-ve-been-screwed-by-as-many-women-as-i-have-by-men-in-terms-of/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) ## More by Arthur Ashe > [I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-accepted-the-face-that-as-much-as-i-want-to-lead-others-and-love-to/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/true-heroism-is-remarkably-sober-very-undramatic-it-is-not-the-urge/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [My humanity, in common with all of God's children, gives the greatest flight to my full range of my possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/my-humanity-in-common-with-all-of-god-s-children-gives-the-greatest/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [I would like to flood South Africa with black personages of all sorts of persuasions: writers, educators, businessmen, you name it. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-would-like-to-flood-south-africa-with-black-personages-of-all-sorts/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Success is a journey not a destination. The doing is usually more important than the outcome. Not everyone can be Number 1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/success-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-the-doing-is-usually-more/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [If I don't ask "Why me?" after my victories, I cannot ask "Why me?" after my setbacks and disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/if-i-don-t-ask-why-me-after-my-victories-i-cannot-ask-why-me-after-my/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Someone once told me that God figured that I was a pretty good juggler. I could keep a lot of balls in the air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/someone-once-told-me-that-god-figured-that-i-was-a-pretty-good/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [I know I could never forgive myself if I elected to live without humane purpose, without trying to help the poor and unfortunate, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-know-i-could-never-forgive-myself-if-i-elected-to-live-without/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [ I don't want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments. That's no contribution to society. \[Tennis\] was purely selfish; that was for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-don-t-want-to-be-remembered-for-my-tennis-accomplishments-that-s-no/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Seven out of 10 black faces you see on television are athletes. The black athlete carries the image of the black community. He carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/seven-out-of-10-black-faces-you-see-on-television-are-athletes-the/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [You learn about equality in history and civics, but you find out life is not really like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/you-learn-about-equality-in-history-and-civics-but-you-find-out-life/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [If I didn't play tennis I probably would have to see a psychiatrist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/if-i-didn-t-play-tennis-i-probably-would-have-to-see-a-psychiatrist/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [Some folks call tennis a rich people's sport or a white person's game. I guess I started too early because I just thought it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/some-folks-call-tennis-a-rich-people-s-sport-or-a-white-person-s-game/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [I have always tried to be true to myself, to pick those battles I felt were important. My ultimate responsibility is to myself. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-have-always-tried-to-be-true-to-myself-to-pick-those-battles-i-felt/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [We blacks look for leadership in men and women of such youth and inexperience, as well as poverty of education and character, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/we-blacks-look-for-leadership-in-men-and-women-of-such-youth-and/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) [Explore all 77 Arthur Ashe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) ## More Blacks quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“The black officer checks Daddy while his partner glances around at all of the onlookers. There's quite a few of us now. Ms. Yvette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/the-black-officer-checks-daddy-while-his-partner-glances-around-at/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [When blacks become humanly visible, when their true beliefs are known, their mask shatters and their symbiotic bond with whites is broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/when-blacks-become-humanly-visible-when-their-true-beliefs-are-known/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Blacks abandoned morals, fathers, and real belief in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/blacks-abandoned-morals-fathers-and-real-belief-in-god/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Well, many Blacks who are vegan are vegan for health reasons. They believe in putting the right food in their bodies. And they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/well-many-blacks-who-are-vegan-are-vegan-for-health-reasons-they/) [Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/) > [Happy Black History Month everyone. I challenge you blacks to change how other races view us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-black-history-month-everyone-i-challenge-you-blacks-to-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What you want, a Bentley? Fur coat? A diamond chain? All you blacks want all the same things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/what-you-want-a-bentley-fur-coat-a-diamond-chain-all-you-blacks-want/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“In the context of the Negro problem neither whites nor blacks, for excellent reasons of their own, have the faintest desire to look back;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-the-context-of-the-negro-problem-neither-whites-nor-blacks-for/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“In America the magazines in which one can frequently publish stories or poems about Negroes are very few, and most of these do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/in-america-the-magazines-in-which-one-can-frequently-publish-stories/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“Since neither black animosity nor the Left’s falsehood of “racial tensions” is based on the actual behavior of the vast majority of white Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/since-neither-black-animosity-nor-the-left-s-falsehood-of-racial/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The poor are the blacks of Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/the-poor-are-the-blacks-of-europe/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) [Browse all 286 Blacks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in libraries.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Ashe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-spend-too-much-time-on-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blacks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-spend-too-much-time-on-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/arthur-ashe-8868_blacks_i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-s_940035.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/arthur-ashe-8868_blacks_i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-s_940035.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/006/arthur-ashe-8868_blacks_i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-s_940035.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in…” — Arthur Ashe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arthur Ashe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have become convinced that we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-spend-too-much-time-on-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-have-become-convinced-that-we-blacks-spend-too-much-time-on-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```