Comments on: Historically black and proud | At Spelman, women’s soccer pushes beyond expectation

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:20:03 +0000

This was such a phenomenal article! I found it because I am looking for young black African Americans in soccer to create a well-deserved blog. If someone can give me a little more info on these girls and any other up-and-coming young soccer players I would greatly appreciate it. These girls need as much exposure as their Caucasian colleagues.

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[...] see our earlier report on the development of the soccer program at Spelman College in Atlanta (23 Aug 07). Tags: Alaska, Barack Obama, basketball, hockey moms, ice hockey, John McCain, Jonathan Raban, [...]

By: Rocko Beatz

Rocko Beatz — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:58:37 +0000

Even though this article is a year old it’s still new to me. I have a six-year-old daughter that has just started playing soccer. I was looking for a little inspiration for her so I was just looking, but this was a great article. I’m glad that more blacks are trying different things such as soccer, golf and tennis, sports previously dominated by whites.

By: Geneva Hamilton

Geneva Hamilton — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:00:23 +0000

Outstanding article. President Beverly Daniel Tatum and the entire Spelman College family should be very proud of these three.

The college was very well represented in this interview with Coach George and co-captains Ashley Hamilton and Rabi Jamar. They clearly articulated their passion for the sport of soccer as well as their dedication and pride in representing Spelman. It was wonderful to hear of the college demonstrating its mutual pride in Coach George and Hamilton and Jamar by displaying this article on their website for all of us to see and hear. Because most of the students are away from home, the support they get from their college family is vital.

So thank you President Tatum and thanks to the entire Spelman College family for your show of love and support of our daughters by displaying this interview on your website. Bravo!

Geneva Hamilton, MBA
Proud mother of Ashley Hamilton

By: Ido Jamar

Ido Jamar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 14:34:00 +0000

This was a great article and interview. Thanks for highlighting the hard work of the Spelman women's soccer family. I just want to add a little background information to what Rabi said—the soccer family that Rabi referred to was Leroy Hodge and Dana Schumacher. Their daughters are Melantha, Mandela—who was a freshman starter at North Carolina State—and Marisha—who now plays for Boston University and has been nominated for a major award as a sophomore. The girls are phenomenal players, and all four years that Rabi played high school soccer at Schenley, there were one or two of the Schumacher-Hodge sisters on the team with her. The school won the city championship each year over the traditional champs, Alderdice. Her senior year, the Schenley girls (Marisha was the star forward on the team and one of the region's highest scorers) also won the first game in the regionals. I think this was a first for the women's team. The Schumacher-Hodge family did a lot for African Americans and soccer in Pittsburgh. They were involved in Soccer in the Streets, Dynamo Soccer (the city recreation and travel League—Dana was the commissioner for many years) and encouraged African Americans to get involved in soccer at all levels including the Olympic-development program and other club teams. Before his recent untimely death, Leroy Hodge started a women's soccer program at Westinghouse High School, a Pittsburgh high school with a student population that is 99 percent African American. It's a great sport and has done a lot for many women. Ido Jamar, proud mom of Rabi Jamar