Scrapbook Item 9: Traditional Race Logic Used in Sports

Here is a link to an article related to the topic: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/casey-ganemccalla/athletic-blacks-vs-smart_b_187386.html.

We discussed the topic of race logic in class on April 7, 2011, and this topic is covered by Coakley in the text on pages 282- 292.  In the article above, the author talks about how race logic is present in sports, but more importantly how these thoughts are being broken.  These ideologies included in the article are the same ones discussed in class, and they say that whites earn their athleticism through hard work and dedication, while blacks are naturally gifted athletes and are not concerned with education (This is also discussed on page 283 in the textbook).  When racial ideology is talked about most people talk about biology, and say blacks are wired better.  When this topic came up in class we said that there was no evidence proving this to be true, and the main reason blacks dominate in some sports has to do more with culture rather than biology.

In Coakley's text on page 286 the link between racial ideology and American culture.  He says that African Americans believe that the only way to become successful is through sport, since opportunities outside of sports are slim.  Many blacks believe it is their destiny to be good at certain sports,  and they are highly motivated to do so. When this topic was discussed in class it was said that blacks concentrate in the revenue producing sports, and in sports where there is not a high need of equipment.  Both of these reasons would lead them to basketball and football.  Also these two sports are filled with black role models, where as sports like golf and tennis are not.  Lack of role models may also be a way to explain the lack of black NFL quarterbacks.  As stated in the article, there are only a handful of good African American quarterbacks, with only one Super Bowl winner ever.  This may also have to deal with culture where blacks are not looking up to Dan Marino and Joe Montana, but rather to non quarterbacks such as Emmitt Smith or Jerry Rice.  Race ideology will always seem to be present in the United States as it has worldwide for centuries. As a society we must realize that just since the color of your skin says that you should be good at one thing should not limit your opportunities, whether it is the business world, or in athletics.