What do these people have in common?
Not only are they all African American athletes but they are also the ones who provide the foundation for defining the significance of sport in today's African American culture. These athletes play the roles of idols and examples of success for African American people. Sports are seen as a "ticket" out of the projects and inner-cities.
Hollywood portrayals of African American athletes are accurate with the personalities and the settings but fail to recognize that the majority of African American athletes do not have a "Cinderella" story. For example, comparing the Hollywood movie "The Blind Side" to the documentary titled "Hoop Dreams". The Blind Side much like other sports movies with African American athletes begins with a disadvantaged beginning and an eventual and glorious success. I myself love these kinds of movies but documentaries such as "Hoop Dreams" portray the actual truth. Most African American athletes don't make it past the high school and college level. (Prof. Withycombe, ETHN 3104, Lecture)
I do believe that sport damages Black Americans and preserves the myth of race. The stereotypes that are generated through sports entices Black Americans to define themselves through only their abilities in athletics. Value is placed higher on being an athlete rather than becoming a doctor or a mathematician. "Race is used to justify social inequalities as natural" (Prof. Withycombe, ETHN 3104, Ethnicity PPT). Sports in African American culture currently plays a role in hindering a non racial point of view.
References:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Blind_side_poster.jpg (Image)
Professor Jenny Withycombe Lectures and Power Point Presentations.
No comments:
Post a Comment