Air Quote by John Edgar Wideman
“When it's played the way is supposed to be played, basketball happens in the air; flying, floating, elevated above the floor, levitating the way oppressed peoples of this earth imagine themselves in their dreams.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Philadelphia Fire, 1990
Basketball can feel transcendent, lifting players and viewers beyond ordinary limits, echoing dreams of freedom for the oppressed.
In simple terms: Basketball feels like flying and symbolizes hope for the oppressed.
Key Takeaway
Embrace sport as a way to imagine freedom.
Themes
sports
freedom
imagination
hope
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- team games
- community events
- personal reflection
- social activism
Key Concepts
transcendence
social metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sport inspire personal freedom?
- Can athletic metaphor translate to real social change?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may romanticize sport, ignoring systemic issues.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)