Mar 24, 2016 - African American Baseball players Jackie Robinson struggled with a life of ... Nack wrote: "Robinson was the target of racial epithets and flying ...
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Colby Borges Ms. Sicotte AP Lang. & Comp. 24 March 2016 Stereotypes Regarding Anatomical Advantages in Sports In the early 1900’s African Americans were generally thought of as inferior, which is what caused segregation and discrimination. However, racism is still in action to this day, it is just found in different forms. In earlier years African Americans were thought to be inferior in all aspects they were denied the right to integrate and the right to vote, which is why caucasians did not interact with African Americans. Finally, after many years African Americans were eventually able to partake in sports. Such as, Charles Follis the first African American football player to join the NF in 1906. The first African American athletes were known to be God’s in the eyes of their race. Evidently as they began to catch the eyes of the American population they were given much hate and racism. These African American athletes were known as uncivilized and uneducated, which is why society referred to them as monkey’s. This was a turn of the century in the sports world. The levels of tension between African American athletes and Caucasian athletes grew. This led to the rise of stereotyping within the world of sports. Once the use of media was available the acts of racism were used as propaganda and consequently increased. The media perpetuates many unfair stereotypes regarding racial groups that impact their lives inside and outside of the sport. From the beginning of time society has clung to stereotypes in order to cope with ethnicity and quirkiness of the populations surrounding them. Before the 20th century sports were different in many aspects. Not only were sports private in many cases such as with gender,
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race and even social class but they were mainly divided by different groups of people. Sports tended to be played by mainly caucasian men before the early 90’s (Holt). The main reason for this was due to segregation and discrimination. Blacks were seen as incapable to play sports. Recently, however, there has been a huge increase in African Americans and their participation in sports leagues. This increase tended to happen in 1990 (Lapchick). One of the prominent African American Baseball players Jackie Robinson struggled with a life of hatred around him. The racial slurs began to impact him in many different ways. Throughout his life Robinson suffered from racism. However, it only got worse when he became a major league ball player. Robinson ended up having to suffer physical attacks as well as verbal, As Sports Illustrated's Bill Nack wrote: "Robinson was the target of racial epithets and flying cleats, of hate letters and death threats, of pitchers throwing at his head and legs, and catchers spitting on his shoes” (Nack). As these acts continued on throughout time the media was able to use it as negative feedback to demeanor his athletic abilities. The media attacked his race and physical capabilities thereby discrediting his talent and belittling the African race. On his first major league baseball game the commentator Arlin at that time said that “No Negro has the athletic ability to play in this league” (Belanger). Arlin said that Robinson should stay in the Negro League. Attacks such as this one were written on posters during the games. These stereotypes are what created the “Negro League Baseball.” Teams and leagues were created to segregate black men. The average white baseball player earned on average $6,000 and a black man would only earn $2,466 (Nack). Robinson was paid less than everyone else, he was beaten, he had less playing time, he was not allowed on talk-shows, and he wasn’t even allowed to eat with the team (Belanger). The stereotype impacted his life on and off the field for a couple of years during his career.
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The media creates false perceptions about black athletes in America and advances stereotypes of superhuman strength and aggressive sexuality. As the number of African American athletes increased, our perception of them has altered. The media as well as the United States once believed that African Americans were inferior in every aspect. However, today society tends to say that African Americans have “superior athletic abilities” compared to all other races. The bias beliefs regarding African Americans have now changed throughout time. Despite the fact that the belief has changed, the concept is still a stereotype. Scientists decided to examine this concept in order to find the underlying truth behind the stereotypical belief. Recent experiments have been conducted in order to find out whether or not genetics between different races are similar (Coghlan). Coghlan and other Australian scientist developed a genetics test to record which type of genes people contained. They specifically looked for genes that helped with a human's philology, such as fast twitch fibers and slow twitch fibers. These muscle fibers allow people to have a high stamina level or a high level of endurance. Some prominent and elite athletes have both of these muscle fibers. The scientist were also able to find double helixes that allow some humans to gain muscle faster than others. This systematic examination in the field of “Genetics and sports science” reveals the underlying explanation on why some athletes are highly advanced in some sports and not in others (Coghlan-4). The examination allows us to recognize that genetics play a major role in the characteristics of each human, but nonetheless both African-Americans and Caucasians have the ability to contain the same genetics, making them equally as capable in sports. The physical and mental capabilities of each race are all equal allowing anyone to achieve the same goals, which reveals the truth behind the stereotype and how it truly functions.
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Racial remarks tend to be found throughout media, which create a bias viewpoint in society. The famous NFL commentator Jimmy “The Greek” has been known for implying and supporting this stereotype. In the WRC-TV interview in Washington a couple years ago, Snyder said blacks had been bred to be better athletes since the Civil War, when "the slave owner would breed his big black with his big woman so that he would have a big black kid. That's where it all started” (Lewis). He added that blacks were "bred" to have "high thighs and big thighs that go up into his back. And they can jump higher and run faster because of their bigger thighs, you see. The white man has to overcome that, but they don't try hard enough to overcome it" (Lewis). Snyder continued by talking about how African Americans are not smart enough or skilled enough to be in coaching or managers. This was also said by Al Champlain the Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager. This was the same man that worked with Jackie Robinson. These two commentators believe that Blacks are meant for athletic abilities only due to the fact that they are not as smart as whites. The outcome of their racial comments ended up causing them to be fired. However, once the comment was created it took a whole new pole spreading like a wildfire to society. These comments caused for a whole new outbreak. Other commentators such as football commentators began to refer to Black Athletes as “Class Acts”, White Athletes as “Scrappy” , And Latino Athletes as “Firecrackers”. These racial slurs have affected all the players inside and outside the sport. These racial slurs were created based off of historical/ social occurrences. Each of these comments are aimed at different races in order to be negative. However, calling someone scrappy is not always used as a negative connotation (McCalla). The commentators use scrapy to describe these white running backs as dedicated, and hardworking. However, when they described the other races they use a negative connotation to portray a unfavorable persona. The description commentators use to describe black running backs is more of a dis. It is calling
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them immature and punkish rather than a positive look. These sport stereotypes evidently have a real effect on the world. The Huffington Post writer McCalla explains to us the difficulties African Americans go though he states that, “Most employers are not concerned with employees’ natural athletic abilities, so stereotypes of African-Americans being athletically superior for the most part do not help Blacks in the real world. However, the stereotypes of whites being hard working, disciplined and smart are helpful to them in finding employment” (McCalla). It is terrible to know that African Americans have to struggle with this stereotype. A prime example of this is Former NFL M.V.P. Steve McNair. McNair was a phenomenal quarterback in the early years of football. McNair ended up playing for a small Black college because every major college recruited him to play defensive back rather than quarterback, his natural position. Many African-Americans are discouraged from playing quarterback and asked to play other positions in high school, college and the professional ranks due to the label that society has put upon them (Frisby). Many African Americans struggle in the real world due to these labels. This is what occurs when stereotypes begin to insinuate that certain races have certain characteristics, whether they be positive or negative, they fall into the same racist generalizations that are at the root of racism and race-based discrimination, which ultimately leads to a negative outcome. Racial and ethnic stereotyping have be a continuous problem for years, playing a role how athletes and perceived and what is expected of them as an athlete and as a person. These racial slurs and stereotypes have affected many athletes inside and outside of the sport even today in 2016. For instance Jeremy Lin. Former NY Knicks basketball player that ended up being drafted later in the rounds due to his Asian background is a prime example of an athlete who was affected due to bias beliefs. Jeremy Lin, a Harvard graduate and New York Knicks point guard, says his Asian-American ethnicity helps explain why all 30 NBA teams passed on
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him during the 2010 draft. ''I think it has something to do with it,'' said Lin, but ''I don't know how much." Undrafted despite being the only basketball player in Ivy League history to record 1,450 points, 400 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals, Lin had been with two other teams before the Knicks signed him. Even though the nation had witnessed this terrible event, nothing was changed (Harris). We are now in 2016 and racial stereotypes still have an effect on athletes. Results from University of Michigan study revealed that 74 percent of white men and 65 percent of white women believe blacks are at least somewhat genetically and biologically superior to whites when it comes to athletics. The study also indicated that whites who believe in genetic differences in athleticism are more likely to express prejudice toward and negative stereotypes about blacks (Pobojewski) effected within the sport due to the fact that he ended up being drafted after other black athletes but he was later effected outside the sport. The media only focused on how he used mathematics to be good at basketball since it’s all about angles. The racist commentators and talk show host would be very negative rather than positive on how well Jeremy Lin was doing in his prime time. However you do start to see his abilities decrease. Lin ended up being traded to worse and worser teams as time goes on. As he continued to drop down lower he began to lay worse as well (Frisby). This was terrible to see and a reason for it may be do to the negative attention he was receiving. Society has a huge impact on a player's life in every sport not only Basketball. Due to the recurring stereotypes society's perspective on in African Americans now only revolves around the sports world. Society connects African Americans to sports only. Sports Illustrated analyst and journalist Gates wagered friends five dollars if they could tell him how many African Americans make a living playing a professional sport. All 30 people he surveyed made extreme accusations. As Gates reported in Sports Illustrated, “the facts about black athletes in America at the time his article was published were
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stunningly low: There were 1,200 black professional athletes in all U.S. sports. There were 12 times more black lawyers than black athletes. There were 20 times more black dentists than black athletes. There were 15 times more black doctors than black athletes” (Fulwood). This allows us to see how the stereotype affects our judgement. Whether in professional sports or big business, stereotypical images steep into the collective consciences of those who view them and mistakenly believe they’ve seen the entire truthful picture. Throughout time African Americans and other races had to deal with segregation and discrimination. Although we are in the 20th century now segregation and discrimination still exists just in different forms. The racial remarks and stereotypical viewpoints still create a division between races. The media initiates these stereotypes by complying with them and revealing them to society. As the media perpetuates these idea society tends to become bias about them, which causes it to become a social norm. As the bias beliefs begin to grow it tends to affect the population as a whole, which is why people believe the stereotype that African Americans are built to have better physical capabilities rather than having a strong set of mental abilities. However, this stereotype is false in all aspects. The stereotype affected the race as a whole inside and outside of the world of sports. As this bias belief begins to fluctuate and affect the population it is now thought as a threat. This false accusation can now be abolished due to the fact that it is proven to be in accurate. Hopefully society can put an end to all racial remarks on the media in order to stop discrimination and to help the lives of others.
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Works Cited Coghlan, Andy. “Elite athletes are born to run; a single gene may identify future gold-medal winners before they have even left the starting blocks.” New Scientist 30 Aug. 2003: 4+. Popular Magazines. Web. 3 Feb. 2016. Frisby, Cynthia M., P.H.D. “Black Athletes Stereotyped Negatively in Media Compared to White Athletes.” How You See Me How you Don’t. Comp. Nathan Hurst. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Rpt. in Black Athletes Stereotyped Negatively in Media Compared to White Athletes. Comp. Nathan Hurst. N.p.: MU News Bureau, n.d. N. pag. Print. Gane-McCalla, Casey. “Athletic Blacks vs Smart Whites: Why Sports Stereotypes Are Wrong.” Huffington Post. Ed. Huffington Post writing staff. N.p., 25 May 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. . Harris, John. “Stereotypes color perceptions in sports.” TRIB Live. Ed. Trib Media Inc. N.p., 1 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. . HOLT, JIM. “Nobody Does It Better.” New York Times. Ed. Jim Holt. N.p., 16 Apr. 2000. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. .
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Lewis, Claude. “Racist Remarks ‘The Greek’ Got What He Deserved.” philly.com. Ed. Inquirer Editorial Board. N.p., 20 Jan. 1988. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. . Sharbutt, Jay. “Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Is Fired by CBS.” Los Angeles Times. Ed. La Times Staff Writers. N.p., 17 Jan. 1988. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. . Wilson, Wayne, Ph.D., et al. “GENDER STEREOTYPING IN TELEVISED SPORTS.” GENDER STEREOTYPING IN TELEVISED SPORTS: n. pag. LA84 Foundation. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. .
