Warriors guard Moses Moody recently reflected on his powerful ‘He Beat the Streets’ poem from his senior year at Montverde Academy (Fla.), in which he personalized the struggle of a Black man in America and empowered the next generation to keep striving for prosperity.
On the court, Moody was a star in the making, averaging 11.6 points and helping Montverde — with current NBA players such as Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes — to an undefeated 25-0 regular season record in his senior campaign (2019). Off the floor, he was a young black man trying to pave the way for himself, his family and future generations.
Moody began his poem by talking about his uncle, who spent 18 of his ‘prime years’ behind bars.
“All because he had this undone infatuation with pride, he had to put that pride to the side to spend cold nights with straight killers,” Moody said.
Moody used the story of his uncle to convey how a lack of resources for underserved kids far too often leads to imprisonment at a young age where they can otherwise plant the seeds for a more fruitful life had the odds not be stacked against them growing up.
“When he was inside, I’m sure he had dreams and aspirations to change his situation, maybe even further his education,” Moody said. “They want to learn and be something and that fire’s taken away at a young age.
Moody believes that his uncle had the skills that, if he was around the right influences and mentors, could become something special. Instead, he said it seems Black men are put in a box, with the perception being there are only two ways to make it out of their disadvantaged situations.
“I’m sorry to say I’m starting to believe the only way to make it out the struggle is put a ball in the hoop or rap, it’s so hard to make it out,” Moody said.
