Breaking Down America’s Score in 2024: An Up-Close Look at What Makes Us Tick, As Others Abuse ‘False Hope’ or Shady Trick

It’s official, the ‘big game’ is coming to New Jersey. FIFA officials announced that the 2026 World Cup Soccer final will be played at MetLife Stadium in Secaucus. With soccer as the most popular global sport, according to the World Atlas, the rounds of matches leading to the finals are sure to draw major media buzz and fan-demonium. The countries and cultures represented by visiting teams and local communities might easily be found in hometowns in the NY/NJ area.

There’s another big game that gets our attention every February. The NFL Superbowl is seen as the ultimate sporting event in the U.S., with a growing fanbase in many parts of the world. The event also falls during Black History Month, and it seems every year there’s always a cultural issue that’s got folks bothered or hot under the collar. This year it’s those who think there’s too much attention being given to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. They’re even pushing conspiracy theories. Then, add-in issues from the presidential campaign trail, and you’ve got folks pondering whether America is a racist country.

All the brew-ha-ha shines a light on America’s divides throughout history. By looking back we’ll see that America was founded with elements of racism in its DNA (e.g. three-fifths clause, etc). In one sense, there were times when the racism was intentional and other times an oversight. Plus, there’re those who look at racism like seeing a glass as being half-full or half-empty. It’s the same glass but viewed differently because of lived experience. But there’s something else about America’s roots. It’s that we’ve got a ‘breakaway gene’ in our DNA. Over 200+ years of trying to live-up to our ideals, we’ve either been trying to break-away from the aspirational or break-away from the detrimental/dysfunctional. We see this playing out with DEI and immigration issues as a battle between the public good vs political tool.

That’s the crux of America’s divides that seem to get reborn or re-imagined for the good or for the bad as a nation. Maybe the release of the Bob Marley movie might help make sense for how we handle the divides. Marley and his music reached worldwide status because he:

• Connected with ‘the people’ in songs about the liberation struggle.
• Watched ethnic battles and civil wars in African countries after their Independence in the 50’s and 60’s, so he didn’t want the same to happen in Jamaica.
• Was loved by folks across the world and especially in Africa, as a Reggae Ambassador “of service” to people, and admired leader “of value” to gov/biz decision makers.

The popular track ‘Jamming’ was released during the 70s when Jamaica went through a period of social unrest, political division and election tension (sound familiar?). Marley headlined a major concert to help bring the political factions and everyday people under the banner of “One Love” and the idea of “unity of respect and purpose”. It’s from this lived experience that SAIC’s “JAM With Us” (join a movement) initiative is about how we experience more #MojoInAmerica (make our journeys one).

Now, going back to sports, when we watch the pre-game coverage of the Superbowl, the commentators share various stats and video clips to help breakdown what we might expect from the players. Similarly, as the presidential campaign season rolls-on, there’re political analysts doing the same for what’s at stake. Well, if we had to breakdown America’s score in 2024 on what makes us tick or fall for the shady trick as a nation, we’ll see that folks get sold false hope. So, to avoid getting caught-up in the conspiracy, disinformation or wild ideas from celebrity newsmakers, it helps to be:

1. ‘Smart’ on Issues

We can break down whether America is a racist country based on if we ‘see America in black & white’ or ‘see America in color.’ In other words, based on how a black & white TV works, it beams a stream of white light with varying intensity. But a color TV beams three streams of colored light (red, green, blue) for the beautiful picture on the screen. There’re those who’d like America to be defined by ‘whiteness’ as the narrative (beam of light). But others want it defined by its history as well as a multi-cultural narrative (streams of colored light). So, if we were able to ‘get smart’ with TV technology, why not on the issues?

2. ‘Juiced’ on Culture

People get ‘juiced’ on culture for different reasons. It could be the music, food, spirits, lingo, social vibe or some combination. But what seems to be happening more often these days is folks getting ‘juiced’ on junk culture. It’s like in the financial world we gotta be careful about junk bonds, or with our health we gotta minimize junk food. In terms of culture, we gotta minimize getting ‘juiced’ by those who’re selling us a junk ‘bill of goods’. Sometimes we gotta know if that celebrity newsmaker or political candidate is talking out of ‘profit or prophet’ reasons when rallying folks in roots & culture. We can minimize getting ‘junked or punked’.   

3. ‘Pumped’ on Movement

There’re many ways to get involved with a social cause or civic engagement. Oftentimes there’s the idea of being part of a movement. When seen in a physical sense, movement gets the juices flowing. It raises blood flow and heart rate which are good reasons to get ‘pumped’. But in a social sense, getting ‘pumped’ on movement relates to having a certain mindset. Throughout history we’ve seen different ‘movements’ of folks wanting to break-away from slavery, segregation, etc. The concern these days is about those who want to break-away from the aspirational to the detrimental, from democracy towards autocracy.       

4. ‘Inked’ on Union   

There’s excitement on Signing Day as athletes announce where they’re headed for college. During our nation’s founding there was another signing day when the Declaration of Independence became official. It announced where our country would be headed. Plus, in another founding document you’ll find that our nation was ‘inked’ on Union with the words “in order to form a more perfect Union”. Whether it’s signing day in sports where athletes from different backgrounds and hometowns plan for a team or signing day in the life of a multi-cultural nation, being ‘inked on union’ has us locked-in on the betterment of the whole.          

So, when the initial round of play in World Cup Soccer begins in a couple years, teams will go through qualifying games in the championship. Interestingly, when the finals happen in July 2026, America will also be celebrating its 250^th birthday. The question we gotta ask today…what if we approach the next two years to get ‘smart’ on issues, ‘juiced’ on culture, ‘pumped’ on movement and ‘inked’ on union? Maybe we’ll have a better handle on America’s divides. Maybe we’ll have more #MojoInAmerica. Or maybe we’ll better understand the ‘breakaway gene’ in our DNA towards the greater public good as a nation.  

For more on impacting Democracy & Public Good, Education & Community or Entrepreneurship & American Dream, chime-in at the ‘Civic Mondays’ events or Civics & Community forums. Plus, you can “J.A.M. With Us” (join a movement) in civic engagement, social change and community life. Checkout the Signup Center below.

Tracks: Bob Marley & The Wailers – Jamming – https://youtu.be/oqVy6eRXc7Q?si=kgIuPRusJqg4U6nb

India Arie – What If – https://youtu.be/GCKFFitNxy4?si=5aUtrr9ARPDyfIkq

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