Read this article: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_74358.html
I want to focus on Race in sports, while this article only really focus's on the athletes, why is there also such a discrepancy in management as well....Few minority coaches at all levels and even less in upper administration...
I know the article is really just a preview of the author's book but it raises many of the stereotypes that exist in the minds of the average american (meaning average white joe plumber). How do these perceptions come to be and more importantly why have they seem to become more prevalent.
I asked friends of mine what they thought of the argument (they can be considered avg. white joe plumbers) and they unanimously agreed with it and tried to defend the article with comments ranging from: "well thats obvious look at the N.B.A. and N.F.L. today or they gave me interesting anatomical differences between whites blacks and asians that are commonly believed but not necessarily true.....
Our class has forced me to re-examine all my conceptions on race and sports (seeing as its been the near the center of my life for as long as i can remember) and i'd like to hear some other peoples ideas in any or all apects of it....
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ReplyDeleteI searched this stuff on google and found a ton of similar articles. It's funny that now we hear all these theories that Black slaves were bred to be stronger when we've learned for a long time Black was constructed as weak and sickly. Furthermore, from what I've read the most significant kind of "slave breeding was the rape of female slaves.
ReplyDeleteIt's unfortunate and troublin that genetics is so often used as an explanation for correlative data. It's especially frustrating because from what we've seen in class the existing research would indicated genetics is rarely responsible for these interethnic/racial differences.
It's the same bullshit of trying to pass of oppressive hierarchy as the natural order.
It clearly is simply another form of oppressive hierarchy as Cooper said. As evident in the Jesse Owens example in the documentary we watched, not too long ago blacks were viewed to be genetically and physically inferior to whites. Now they are considered to be physically superior, but only in an animalistic sense. No one talks about the great discipline that many black athletes have when it comes to their profession, but this is a very common theme among white athletes. There is a perception that black athletes still don't have to 'work' and are simply gifted but still lazy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cooper about the part of using genetics as an excuse. Whites may not think that it hurts because it is a 'good' quality, however, it goes back to limiting the scope of being for blacks. Also, we have seen this type of language all too much before. There is a raw talented black athlete who needs the guidance from the white coach/veteran player.
ReplyDeleteSooooo is it just coincidence that such a large percentage of successful professional athletes are black? Socialization to be a better athlete? Because I feel like if the white powers-that-be could, they would gladly increase their white roster...but they're more concerned with winning games. So what is it then??
ReplyDeleteSocialization to be a better athlete is an interesting idea. There is a large percentage of black professional athletes, and I'm sure young black boys look up to them as role models. I'm not sure if this applies as much now, but 30 years ago or so, I'm sure young white boys were given many more options for career opportunities. Black boys might have seen athletics as a way to move up socially in "White America."
ReplyDeleteI think Meredith makes an interesting point. What if that truly is the case, that blacks felt that they had to go to sports to make money? I mean, I'm sure that's not the case entirely, but I truly wonder if that is why some black men got into sports.
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