Race and Ethnicity

In my American Sport in the 21st Century class we discussed race and ethnicity in sport on November 10 and 15. The question that was asked was are they important in sports? We also discussed some terminology, sport participation and African Americans, the history, traditional race logic used in sports, physical dominance of African Americans, and effects. The word racism is thrown around a lot. It was widely known and used in the 1900's it is still around today. It is just another thing minority players have to overcome to achieve success.

Facts:

• Sport is considered to be a meritocratic institution (2015 ESPN Poll)
• Racial minorities in the United States continue to face systematic pervasive discrimination

Definitions:

• Bigot- someone who is stubbornly attached to an opinion or belief
• Prejudice- an expression of bigotry, judging without knowledge of the facts
• Stereotypes- fixed ideas about a group 
• Race- social category constructed and accepted by society to describe members with genetic similarity
• Socially constructed- slavery
• Based on physical attributes
• Ethnic Group- socially distinct population that shares a way of life and is committed to the ideas, norms, an things that constitute the way of life.
• Minority Group- members who share common group characteristics and suffer from discrimination 

Sport Participation and African Americans

• Prior to the 1950's African Americans faced a segregated sports system
• African Americans participate in very limited range of sports
• African American men and women are underrepresented in most sports

History

• 1620- slavery
• 1810- Molyneux
• 1861-1865- Civil war (reconstruction)
• 13th amendment 1865- Abolish Slavery
• 14th amendment 1868- Gave African Americans rights
• 15th amendment 1870- Gave black men who owned land the right to vote
• 1896- Plessy V.S. Ferguson (separate but equal)
• 1936- Jesse Owens
• 1947-Jackie Robinson
• 1954- Brown V.S. Board (allowed blacks and whites to use same facilities)
• 1950's- Althea Gibson
• 1960's- Civil Rights
• 1964- Civil Rights act Title 7 equitable opportunities
• 1970's-Present- Explosion
• African Americans in NBA= 87%, NFL= 70%, MLB= 9.8%

Traditional Race Logic Used in Sports

• Achievements of white athletes are due to:
• ability
• character
• intelligence
• Achievements of black athletes are due to:
• biology
• natural physical abilities

Physical Dominance of African Americans

• Blacks have slight genetic advantage over whites in some areas
• African Americans are more physically suited for  activities requiring speed and power
• Longer levers, slimmer pelvis, less fat on muscles
• more fast twitch muscles
• Advance motor skills at an early age

Effects

• Blacks concentrate more on sports in which future economic incentives exist
• Blacks concentrate on sports in which exclusive training facilities, equipment and coaching is not necessary during developmental years
• Black role models affect the ways in which black youths view some sports stereotypes
• Whites tend to gravitate towards individual sports where developmental expenses are high. 

In this article it talks about all the different types of discrimination reports that have happened in sports. It also breaks them into categories as to what kind of discrimination it was. I feel that racism is still very active not only in the world but in sports. Look at Donald Sterling who was the owner for the San Antonio Spurs. He lost his job because he said some racist remarks. Racism is all around us and it is a shame. If racism is ever gone that is when sports will truly be at it greatest. Athletes can play without the worry of being treated differently.