Race,%20Ethnicity,%20and%20Sport

1
chapter11

• Race, Ethnicity, and Sport

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Chapter Outline

• Classifications of Race and Ethnicity
• Sport Participation Among Racial and Ethnic
  Minorities
• Sport and Promoting Equality
• Minorities As Sport Leaders
• Summary

3
Definitions

• Race Social category constructed and accepted by
  society to describe members with genetic
  similarity
• Ethnicity The cultural heritage of a group
• Racism A belief of superiority of one race over
  another
• Minority group In the United States, all groups
  except Whites (since Whites constitute the
  majority of the population in North America)

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Population and Sport Participation of Minorities

• See table 11.1 on page 187 for the current
  breakdown of the U.S. population by racial group.
  
• Latinos will make up 50 of the U.S. population
  in 2050.
• The number of African Americans will increase by
  71 by 2050.
• Advances against racism in American sport have
  been made since the 1960s civil rights movement.
• In 2003 to 2004 Division I college sports were
  62.3 White males and 70.6 White females.

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African American Athletes

• The golden age of U.S. sport was the 1920s and
  1930s.
• In 1947 Jackie Robinson broke through the color
  barrier and was named Rookie of the Year.
• By the 1950s participation percentages matched
  population percentages.
• By 2002 there was a big shift in the percentage
  of Black athletes.
• Blacks are overrepresented in basketball and
  football but underrepresented in the majority of
  sports.
• See table 11.2 on page 188 for the percentage of
  participation in collegiate sport by racial
  group.
• See table 11.3 on page 188 for the percentage of
  professional players by racial group.

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Race Differences in Specific Sports

• Biological reasons
• Not supported
• Kenyans versus Ethiopians
• Cultural and social reasons
• Greater emphasis on different activities between
  cultures
• Sport seen as means of social mobility
• Many athletic role models
• Opportunity structures
• Facilities and resources available
• Space, money, programs

7
Racism in Sport

• Stacking Minorities are disproportionately found
  in specific team positions.
• Whites in thinking and outcome control positions
• Blacks in speed positions
• Hispanics and Latinos in baseball
• Table 11.4 on page 193 for stacking in the NFL
  and MLB
• Employment The proportion of minorities as
  college and professional coaches and
  administration is lower than that of the general
  population and vastly lower than athlete
  percentages.

(continued)
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Racism in Sport (continued)

• Exploitation of minority athletes Minority
  athletes are treated differently.
• Given special treatment in classroom
• Promoted through grades despite poor academic
  performance
• Not academically ready for college
• Pressured into easy majors
• Low graduation rates
• African American women especially exploited

(continued)
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Racism in Sport (continued)

• Native American mascots Team mascots are
  insensitive to Native Americans.
• In United States, 0.9 of population is Native
  American
• Approximately 20 Native American professional
  athletes in 2005
• Poverty rate on reservations is 50
• Images for names, mascots, and logos display
  stereotypical images
• Dehumanizes and demeans culture
• NCAA limiting use of names and images by 2008

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Sport As a Negative Force for Equality

• Professional sport career may be unrealistic goal
  in minority community
• Graduation rates of Black males (42) below those
  of male students (54) and student-athletes (51)
• Black women have same rates as student-athletes
  and better rates than non-student-athletes
• Black families 8 times more likely than White
  families to pressure child into athletics
• Professional career resources limited, 95 of
  ex-NBA players need to find another job

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Sport As a Positive Force for Equality

• Sport success linked to self-confidence
• Way out of poverty for some
• Integration easier through sports
• After-school programs
• School-based programs are free
• Unique travel opportunities, increase in
  awareness
• Healthy lifestyle
• Role models can be positive

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Ways to Promote Diversity in Sport

• Assist in collecting and reporting data.
• Require leaders to report racism.
• Major sport organizations need to plan on
  including minorities at all levels.
• Media need to recruit minority journalists.
• Include minorities in media publications and
  images.
• Get government support for programs.
• Adopt nondiscrimination policies.

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Summary

• Differences in physical prowess are likely due to
  reasons other than biological ones.
• Percentages of athletes, coaches, and
  administrators are misrepresented in certain
  sports.
• Racism in sport occurs through stacking, imaging,
  hiring practices, and exploitation.
• Sport can provide an avenue to promote diversity
  and equality.

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On Deck

• Questions and comments
• Assignments and readings
• Next chapter Women and Sport
• Title IX
• Social issues