The Link between Race and Sports - Essay Example

? Race and Sports The scenario of sociology of sport or sports sociology evaluates sports from a different angle, i.e. as a phenomenon which is interconnected with society. Within this context, sports sociology provides ample importance to the relationship between race and sports. One can easily identify that race and sports influence each other in one way or another. When unneeded importance is given to some races that dominate the domain of sports, there exists high possibility for the feeling of racialism and related issues. To be specific, racism in sports creates space to jealousy and hatred, which is totally against the primary aims of sports. Besides, the evolution of race to racism in sports leads to bias and marginalization, beyond entertainment value. Thesis statement: Within the scenario of sociology of sport, the relationship between race and sports is undergoing rapid change due to the evolution of race to racism (special references to the evolution of race to racism in sports and racism in particular sports). How race has evolved in all sports over the years When the term ‘race’ is superimposed into the context of sports and its evolution over the years, one can identify that race changed to racism. Earlier, racial identity was not a serious problem because physical ability was most important in sports. As the whole world underwent rapid transformation due to the development in science and technology, racial identity became more important. This affected the scenario of sports because racial identity of the immigrants who are participating in sports events became a barrier to their development. Boxill makes clear that “The belief that black athletic ability is inversely proportionate to black intellectual ability has been used to justify slavery, colonialism, and segregation” (300). In sports, the black athletes were forced to undergo bias and marginalization. This difference between whites and blacks, due to their racial identity, as high and low acted the role of domination and subduing. So, the change in the meaning of the term race and its acquired meaning as racism affected the scenario of sports in general. A. The link between race and sports The link between race and sports was positive and influential. But when more and more athletes from the lower classes began to dominate the scenario of sports, the dominating race began to consider the same as a challenge upon their racial supremacy. On the other side, the suppressed athletes considered sports as the best available medium to fight against racism and to display their physical supremacy. Within this context, the relationship between race and sports became more complicated. Besides, the dominant race began to show discrimination and hatred towards the suppressed. They were not ready to value the supremacy of the suppressed athletes in sports. This led to a number of problems related to racial difference and eventually transformed into racism in sports. When the athletes from the African nations and the African-Americans began to dominate the scenario of sports, the relationship between race and sports became more complicated. From a different angle of view, the relationship between race and sports is interconnected with colonization, slavery, forced labor and racial supremacy. Hylton makes clear that “It has been documented that sport can be used as a form of resistance or antiracist vehicle for individuals and communities affected by the systematic racism in their daily lives” (115). Besides, racial identity is not an important factor to be successful in sports. But when more and more black athletes became victorious in sports, the racial feeling became more evident. Moreover, racism was an effective tool to devalue the achievement of an athlete. This is totally against the ultimate aim of sports because one’s racial identity does not help one to be successful in sports. B. The evolution of race to racism in sports The origin of racial thought is related to the social class discrimination caused by colonization. So, the evolution of race to racism in sports is a long process. For instance, the social class discrimination faced by the Black community members (say, slaves) in America is another form of racism. Later, this social class discrimination was made use in sports to hinder the progress of lower classes. But now in America, racial prejudice beyond class bias is an unresolved problem which is totally against the ultimate aim of modern sports. The American Civil War and the abolition of slavery in the year 1865 helped the salves to be free. Kendall states that “Examples of subtle racism in sports include those descriptions of African American athletes which suggest that they have “natural” abilities and are better suited for team positions requiring speed and agility” ( 287). But the mainstream society was not ready to accept the African Americans to its core. On can see that racial bias was the grass root level reason behind racism and it hindered the upward mobility of African Americans. When this issue is superimposed into the context of sports, it reflected the racial bias against blacks and hindered them from entering the limelight of sports. For instance, the blacks were made use as jockeys in horse racing and this is another mode of racism. The black jockeys were considered as the symbol of pride and this forced them to be loyal to their masters. In Europe, Adolph Hitler was one of the most notorious individuals, totally in favor of racism in sports. His policy of Aryan Supremacy hindered the growth and development of the Jews. Besides, Hitler considered the Berlin Olympics in 1936 as an opportunity to prove his theory of Aryan Supremacy. But Jessey Owens, who was a Black American athlete, shattered Hitler’s dreams and became victorious. But in his homeland, Owens was forced to face racism. But his performance as an athlete helped him to overcome all the troubles. The people were forced to accept him because of the feeling of nationalistic pride. In short, the evolution of race to racism in sports shows gradual progress but racial bias still rule the arena of sports. C. What race has changed? As pointed out, now people are ready to accept athletes beyond their skin color due to the feeling of nationalistic pride. But the sociological definition of sports as a social institution which unites the whole world is still out of focus. Thornton states that “Issue of race, equality and discrimination are at the forefront of the sports world today as they have been for the last century” (379). The definition of race underwent rapid transformation to racism or evaluating people on the basis of their racial identity. So, this sort of change cannot be considered as positive. For instance, the transformation from race to racism hindered upward mobility of people who represent certain races. But now, most of the athletes are ready to exhibit their physical power to prove their racial identity. This leads to further problems related to racism. Schultz states that “Institutionalized racism in sports has been challenged on different fronts, especially by Native Americans” (242). In short, the dominating race considers racism as the best possible way to express their racial feeling. On the other side, the members from suppressed races consider their superiority in sports as the best possible way to prove their racial identity and to protest against bias and marginalization. D. Why racism existed in particular sports? The athletes from African nations consider that their success in Olympics is the best possible chance to be successful in life. Earlier, the scenario of Olympics was dominated by the members from White race. Later, the African, Afro-American, and Asian athletes began to consider Olympics as an innovative medium to exhibit their talent and physical ability. Then, the myth of racial superiority and domination become history. Theoretically, any person from any race can participate in any sports event and can be victorious. Practically, a number of problems related to racial identity hider the progress of certain athletes from suppressed classes or races. When the dominant race dominated certain sports events, there exists less scope for racism. For instance, the scenario of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in America is dominated by the White race and there exists less possibility for racial feeling. When the members of the suppressed races try to challenge the supremacy of the dominant race, there exist high possibility for racism and bias. For instance, the domination by Black athletes in Major League Baseball creates racial feeling and leads to marginalization of certain players. Shropshire makes clear that “As baseball became more popular after the Civil War, demands that blacks be banned from the game increased” (28). In the year of 1857, the National Association of Base-Ball Players (NABBP) tried to hinder the black players by showing racism against them. This incident is symbolic of racism in sports. On the other side, the Black/Hispanic athletes are aware of the fact that their success in sports is the best possible way to be successful in life. In short, the challenge by the suppressed races against the dominant races leads to racism in particular sports. Summing, the evolution of race as a human identity to racism and related discrimination and marginalization is a burning issue. Within this context, the relationship between race and sports is undergoing gradual but positive change because more and more athletes are becoming acceptable without considering their racial identity. This maybe because of nationalistic proud, but it is helpful to decrease the future scope of racism in sports. The evolution of race to racism in sports is interconnected with colonization and slavery. But the earlier notion on race as superior or inferior is being destroyed by certain athletes who represent lower classes (say, races) in the society. Besides, racism existed in particular sports because the challenge undertaken by the members of suppressed races ignited hatred in the minds of the members of the dominant race. In short, the evolution of race to racism is sport is showing gradual but positive change. Future may prove that physical fitness and never ending aspiration to be successful is most important in sports. References Boxill, Jan. Sports ethics: an anthology. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2003. Print. Hylton, Kevin. 'Race' and sport: critical race theory. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis, 2009. Print. Kendall, Diana. Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print. Schultz, Brad. Sports media: planning, production, and reporting, Volume 1. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, 2005. Print. Shropshire, Kenneth L. In black and white: race and sports in America. New York, US: NYU Press, 1996. Print. Thornton, Patrick. Sports Law. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2010. Print. Read More