|
We Built Pyramids,
Why Not Stadiums?
Khufu, the 4th Dynasty
pharaoh who built the Great Pyramid of Giza, was the
son of another great pyramid builder, King Sneferu and
his mother was Queen Hetepheres. Khufu reigned for nearly
25 years and demonstrated a commanding ability to organize
and mobilize workers. The Great Pyramid stands as symbol
of the ability of Khufu to lead and coordinate his people.
This structure, which is composed of nearly 2.5 million
stones, is an ancient symbol of sheer power and aptitude.
The average weight of each stone was over 2 tons and
most of the stones that make up the ceiling fixture
in the King's Chamber, weighed in excess of 9 tons.
The Great Pyramid mortar joints are consistently 1/50
of an inch, which is incredible craftsmanship, considering
that of the two million plus stones that makeup the
pyramid, no one stone weighs less than a ton. At an
original height of over 480 feet (145 m), the pyramid
stands as one of the world's greatest, unexplained accomplishments.
To this day, the actual movement and placement of the
stones is considered a mystery.
Khufu’s development and building of the Great
Pyramid is a true symbol of the essence of Black men.
The Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders
of the ancient world that still stands, and reigned
as the tallest structure on Earth for 43 centuries.
The Great Pyramid is one of the oldest structures on
Earth and without a doubt the best built. Its height
represents the body…the temple of Black men.
Its colossal weight and size represents not only the
spirit of Black men, but our African culture and the
aspirations of Black men.
With the history of Black
men as builders as a backdrop consider that more than
$2.1 billion is committed to various college football
stadium construction projects from 2007-10 including,
but not limited to, 60 million for a new stadium for
Central Florida;.$21.5 million for a new training facility
at Ohio State, the Woody Hayes Athletic Center; $288.5
million for a new stadium, TCF Bank Stadium, for the
University of Minnesota; $55 million for a new stadium,
InfoCision Stadium, for the University of Akron; and
$226 million for expansion/renovation of Michigan Stadium.
On the pro side of things, new stadiums and training
facilities abound as well representing billions of dollars
in construction spending, jobs and opportunity. A wonderful
example of our tax dollars at work
Notwithstanding all of this spending and decades after
the civil rights movement, the income gap between Black
and White has grown and the income among Black men has
actually declined in the past 3 decades when adjusted
for inflation. More than $100 million in spending is
planned in Ohio, home to two of the five poorest cities
in America – Cleveland and Cincinnati, both of
which had more than 25% of residents living below the
poverty line in 2006. Who knows what might happen if
Black men could just build stadiums and training facilities.
If you have questions
or require additional information, please contact Everett
L. Glenn, Esq. at eglenn@espsportslawpro.com
or call 562.619.8460.
| |
|
