Race, Sports, and Self-Determination in Post-Racial America Scholar Jamal L. Ratchford of “Black Firsts and Fool’s Gold: The 1960s Black Athlete Revolt Reconsidered,” focuses on the intersection between sports and Black self-determination. Perhaps exemplifying this intersection best are former Olympic athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, whose 1968 display of Black self-determination was met with white outrage. Though times have changed—Ratchford demonstrates that white society is now more accepting of Black self-determination—the scholar also contends that white society has sought to neuter any display so that it is more easily digestible. Ratchford’s analysis is thoughtful and precise, and he does a strong job tracing the development of …show more content…
Black self-determination over the course of several decades, concluding with LeBron James’s televised decision to leave the N.B.A,’s Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. In addition, Ratchford is correct when arguing that Black athletes need to examine how they can use their money, power, and fame to help community members rather than just enriching owners, many of whom are white and care only about profitmaking. Despite his otherwise persuasive argument, Ratchford fails to address how the Black athlete, even if he encounters racism, is much less likely to encounter it in its totality, not least because he often possess enough fame and fortune to elude institutionalized racism. In the end, Ratchford advances a cogent argument relative to the importance of Black self-determination, though overlooking the unique position of the Black athlete does damage his position. In the opening of his academic piece, Ratchford discusses how the media and, by extension, white America have come to view Black self-determination more positively over the last several decades. More particularly, when addressing Smith and Carlos, Ratchford states that their recognition at the ESPYs “alluded to the ways American sports media specifically, and white masses more broadly, determine when and how black protest and self-determination are acceptable in national contexts” (50). Ratchford’s analysis is correct, as white America has long assumed the role of gatekeeper to Black protest and self-determination, allowing each to settle into the national context only when both are neutered and ripped from their underlying radicalism. In other words, by acknowledging Smith and Carlos at the ESPYs, white America basically stated that their courageous and bold act was now sufficiently tempered by time and place and, as such, could be shared with the broader public. Separating the radical from his or her radicalism is nothing new for white America, though this separation is arguably most clearly evinced in the treatment of Martin Luther King, Jr. After discussing King Jr.’s radicalism, author Cornel West, writing in The Guardian, states that if he “were alive today, his words and witness against drone strikes, invasions, occupations, [and] police murders…would threaten most of those who now sing his praises” (3). West’s words are as applicable to King Jr. as they are to Smith and Carlos, highlighting how white America has worked to shape Black radicalism so that whites can embrace the individual without having to consider the ways in which this radicalism threatens their own position and privilege. Equally important to Ratchford’s article is the contention that certain Black athletes, among them Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell and, more recently, LeBron James, have exercised self-determination relative to their playing careers.
Traditionally speaking, the player was the property of the owner, so much so that players had little to no control over where they played or for whom. By demonstrating that he would play for the Miami Heat rather than the Cleveland Cavaliers, his hometown team that drafted him, James “disrupted the age-old American sporting tradition of the player and owner relationship,” in turn “shap[ing] his own destiny” (Ratchford 50). What makes James’ decision so potent is that he chose to televise it, a decision that many ridiculed as vainglorious and unnecessary, and one that even James admitted he might not have done again (Windhorst 2011). Even still, by televising his decision, James not only flouted tradition, but did so openly, outside of the back offices in which decisions like these are typically made and, instead, in the living room of white America. As such, white America must have surely realized that it no longer served as gatekeeper of Black self-determination. Rather, Black athletes were the ones in control over their own careers, and so would make the decisions that aligned with their desires and advanced their interests. As expected, this reality did not jar well with many white Americans, who took to the streets in protest, burning James’ jersey in the open and declaring the once beloved son a traitor and coward. Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavilers, even “incited anti-James propaganda,” calling him a “‘coward narcisit’” that turned his back on his hometown (Ratchford 53), leading prominent Black figures like the Reverend Jessie Jackson to denounce the owner and his slave master mentality. As much as anything, James’s decision to leave the Cavaliers demonstrated that the young superstar understood that he was in charge of his
career—that, in fact, he was in charge of his destiny. No longer would the Black athlete be beholden to a white owner, to a mentality that subordinated him to a wealthy, powerful owner, who would pull the strings on his athletes. James may have not been the first Black athlete to take such a position, to exercise self-determination regarding his career, but he is certainly the most recognized one in recent memory. Later in his article, Ratchford discusses how Black athletes, aside from exercising more self-determination in their careers, have also looked to empower their communities. For Ratchford, decisions like James’s to provide a financial contribution to the Boys and Girls Clubs “reinforced the potential of pragmatic black nationalism,” signaling the “impact black athletes could have on spearheading efforts related to social and economic development of black communities” (56). Though Ratchford frames James’s monetary contributions as an outgrowth of black nationalism, one may also contextualize them within the self-determination framework. In other words, after having exercised his self-determination by moving from Cleveland to Miami, James arguably opted to provide monetary funds to an organization that largely serves Black boys and girls, in turn assuring that this organization continues to provide Black youth with the tools of self-empowerment and, ultimately, self-determination. This last point is important given that as one of the world’s greatest athletes, James is in a unique position, having amassed enough money and clout to freely navigate American society without being subjected to full force of institutionalized racism. As a Black man first and, then, a Black athlete, James must still contend with racism—not too long ago, the gate of his Los Angeles home was scrawled with racist graffiti (Bonesteel 2017)—but, even still, James remains a multimillionaire with a powerful voice that will likely remain powerful long after he retires. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said of the many of the young boys and girls at the Boys and Girls Club, who will likely labor under institutionalized racism, crimping their chances at life success. Though James’s financial contributions will not eradicate institutionalized racism, it may better prepare young Black boys and girls to confront it, especially if the money is directed toward empowering these children and demonstrating the vitality of self-determination in their own lives. Thus, James’ contribution “reinforced the empowerment and influence of black athletes in American and global cultures” (Ratchford 56) and likely went far in helping needy and vulnerable individuals. Although Ratchford’s analysis is solid and well-supported, it does fall short when he examines how many Black athletes have expressed their self-determination. Though Black athletes, as noted, are Black men first, the idea that a player like Rasheed Wallace “condemned NBA commission David Stern and his league for treating black players like slaves on a plantation” (Ratchford 52) is rather absurd. The general public was unsympathetic to Wallace’s statement, Ratchford states, given that “for many whites, one cannot be rich and also perceive the world as racist” (52). Though he might be right, equally plausible is the idea that white Americans simply refused to believe that a superstar athlete making millions of dollars a year for playing a game had anything in common at all with a plantation slave. Stated otherwise, Wallace’s sentiment may have been right—remember, that Wallace played several years before James decided to move from Cleveland to Miami—but the coarseness of his word and the unintelligent analogy did damage to his case. Consequently, the white backlash to Wallace’s words may not so much stemmed from white America’s erroneous belief that wealthy Black athletes do not face racism as much as the fact that the position that the wealthy Black athlete occupies is in no way comparable to that of a plantation slave. Ratchford glosses over this possibility, doing his argument a general disserve and, in turn, likely alienating some readers, Black and white, who wonder where the validity of Wallace’s words lies. Briefly put, there is no validity to Wallace’s words, as athletes are not plantation slaves, even if their freedom was a bit restricted and they did not have as much self-determination over their career choices as they likely desired. All in all, Ratchford’s argument concerning how white America has shaped Black self-determination, as well as how Black athletes like James have exhibited more self-determination in recent years, is thoughtful and intelligent. If the argument falters, it is with respect to why white America has reacted negatively to some statements, like Wallace’s, that posit a connection between athletes and plantation workers. Despite this faltering, Ratchford’s piece is an important contribution to the larger conversation about the Black athlete and where exactly his place in society is. For this reason, critical engagement with this piece is not only likely to be an enlightening experience, but also one capable of providing the succor needed to address contentious race-related issues that still plague American society. Works Cited Bonesteel, Matt. “LeBron James’s House Spray-Painted with a Racial Slur, Police Say.” The Washington Post, 31 May 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early lead/wp/2017/05/31/lapd-investigating-vandalism-at-lebron-jamess-house-as-possible hate-crime/?utm_term=.7a2e35ca7530 Ratchford, Jamal L. “Black Fists and Fool's Gold: The 1960s Black Athletic Revolt Reconsidered: The LeBron James Decision and Self-Determination in Post-Racial America.” The Black Scholar vol. 42, no. 1, 2012, pp. 49-59. West, Cornel. “Martin Luther King Jr Was a Radical. We Must Not Sterilize His Legacy.” The Guardian, 04 Apr. 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/04 /martin-luther-king-cornel-west-legacy Windhorst, Brian. “LeBron James: No More Mr. Bad Guy.” ESPN, 07 Dec. 2011, http://www.espn.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/7322299/lebron-james-miami heat-says-done-villain-role
Walter LeFeber's book serves as a cornerstone of reference for its content as it relates to race, black business and the expansion of global capitalism since the late 20th century. With regard to race, it shows how race effected middle-class Michael Jordan at a young age and how he grew in the star he became, yet still could not es...
Platt, Larry. New jack jocks: rebels, race, and the American athlete. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2002.. 56-60
In sports, there is no shortage of black success stories. Meanwhile, two black men of prominence in Odessa (who are not athletes) fell from grace. Willie Hammond Jr. (the first black city councilor and county commissioner) and Laurence Hurd (a minister and desegregation supporter) were glimmers of hope for the black community that were both snuffed out. Hammond was arrested on charges of arson conspiracy and perjury and Hurd is in prison for burglary and robbery, leaving a hole in the morale of the black community that was not repaired. These losses, combined the with negative news of black people circulated via media, made the possibility of succeeding in a white man’s world inconceivable. Yet, there is no shortage of black success stories in sports, like Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson; in every area that is not a “rich man’s sport”, black athletes dominate. To the poor children on the Southside, there is something very alluring about the “Cinderella stories” of men from poor black neighborhoods rising to prominence through sports. Based on these examples, there seem to only be two paths for a black teen to take: criminal or athlete. Many of these teens aspire to be sports stars and depend on nothing else because there is nothing else. Some may become the superstars they hope to be or they fall into ruin as Boobie Miles, Derric Evans, and Gary Edwards
Bill Russell grew up in an extremely racist time in America in an extremely racist state. Born in Louisiana and raised both there and in Oakland, California; Russell and his family battled the every day hardships that most black people faced at that time. But Russell always had a set of morals and guidelines that he led his life by, many of which he learned from his father, who he says was his hero and biggest role model. These morals revolved around independence and a very classic “ I will not allow anyone to impose their will on me.” (Page 56, paragraph 1) These morals followed and shaped him in his playing and coaching career.
Many Americans have seen or at least heard of the movie “Remember the Titans.” The classic film focuses on a school that is blending black and whites and taking on an African American head coach. The coach knows the importance of winning, but also knows the team must work together to get those wins and have respect for every single person in the locker room. Although coach Boone was still put in a tough situation with the school board and the community, he was able to lead his team, with the help of a white assistant coach, to an undefeated season. The team coming together is exactly what America does with sports. Most everybody can come together and enjoy sporting events. By saying “everybody”, that includes all races: white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and so on. Sports are America’s past, present, and
In the collegiate world of sports, basketball has become an increasingly recognized sport among African Americans, predominantly males. The hope of any young basketball player is that one day a scout will come and recruit them into stardom The question that presents itself as a problem to the lucky few who are chosen to go professional, is whether or not an education is more important than a million dollar shoe deal, “The NCAA's (1998) annual six-year study reported that only 33% of Black male basketball players graduated, (Chronicle of Higher Education, 1999). Individually, basketball reported the lowest graduation rate in all divisions,” (Robinson, 2004:1). Basketball players have become so idolized in the eyes of young Black male basketball athletes, that the value of education appear to be less important in the development of these young men, “According to Sailes (1997), there is an over-representation of Black males in particular sports and an under-representation in other segments of American society. He provides the example of percentages of Black males competing in the NBA (77%), NFL (65%), MLB (15%), and MLS (16%) in comparison to the fact that fewer than 2% of doctors, lawyers, architects, college professors, or business executives are Black males.”, (Robinson, 2004:1). The idea of the attainment of a professional basketball player’s salary in the NBA, without even having to go to school for the time it takes to earn a degree is very appealing to some players. Those with a wealthy, or even upper-middle class upbringing may not view material assets as a priority. In the Black community, we have theorized that money and success play a more important role than education in most households. Although these two seem to go together, one resulting from the other, this does not apply in the sports world. Our research will examine the role that the family value system plays in influencing Black vs. White male athletes to turn professional, as opposed to obtaining a college degree before turning professional.
Historical and sociological research has shown, through much evidence collection and analysis of primary documents that the American sporting industry can give an accurate reflection, to a certain extent, of racial struggles and discrimination into the larger context of American society. To understand this stance, a deep look into aspects of sport beyond simply playing the game must be a primary focus. Since the integration of baseball, followed shortly after by American football, why are the numbers of African American owners, coaches and managers so very low? What accounts for the absence of African American candidates from seeking front office and managerial roles? Is a conscious decision made by established members of each organization or is this matter a deeper reflection on society? Why does a certain image and persona exist amongst many African American athletes? Sports historians often take a look at sports and make a comparison to society. Beginning in the early 1980’s, historians began looking at the integration of baseball and how it preceded the civil rights movement. The common conclusion was that integration in baseball and other sports was indeed a reflection on American society. As African Americans began to play in sports, a short time later, Jim Crow laws and segregation formally came to an end in the south. Does racism and discrimination end with the elimination of Jim Crow and the onset of the civil rights movement and other instances of race awareness and equality? According to many modern sports historians and sociologists, they do not. This paper will focus on the writings of selected historians and sociologists who examine th...
...tudents, American slaves, and 1890’s immigrant children, in similar ways. Sport is often vital to the autonomy, freedom, and pride of its participants especially in regards to the Native American students at boarding schools. Even though individuals may have thought that the schools were exploiting the talents of the Native American students, which they may have been, no one considered how the students actually viewed sport at the time. There often needs to be less preoccupation with political correctness and more focus on how certain actions actually affect the ones involved. Even if the schools were exploiting the students by sport, sports should never even been taken away from the Native American students of boarding skills due to the fact that it was sport that often was allowing them to develop; not only as a Native American, but as an individual as well.
“We are more visible, but not more valuable”. This famous quote was said by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the most famous black basketball players, symbolized what many black athletes were pursuing when they first got into sports. In today’s world not only are black athletes a part of our sports venue, they are dominating the landscape of some sports such as the NBA which consists of a whopping 80% black athletes. Black athletes continue to revitalize sports in America as some athletes became the face of their sports such as Muhammad Ali in boxing, Jackie Robinson in baseball and Michael Jordan in basketball. Sports came as a form of entertainment for many Americans, but for black athletes it came as a pathway to express who they were and what they believed in. The more they became involved in sports, the more media they were able to attract which enabled them to talk about topics other than sports such as racism, their religions and equality through the civil rights movement. These views and statements made in their interviews and press conferences were the ones that became publicized and more popular amongst the typical white men in America and it played a huge role in changing the way blacks were viewed in American society.
The adage of the adage of the adage of the adage of the adage of the The African American quest for equity in sports. American sports: From the age of folk games to the age of televised sports (5th ed.). (pp. 62-63). The aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid aforesaid afores Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Spalding, Albert G. (n.d.).
Jackie Robinson was a prominent figure in American history as he broke the color line, and was the first black athlete to play in a white league. Americans believed this would stop racism in the future and integrate all sports, but racism has planted its roots in sports ever since 1947. The NBA is a professional basketball league and has been very popular in the United States since its creation. The sport is enjoyed by all races although most of the players are of African American race. During recent events, L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling was caught making racist remarks in an audio recording. He was frustrated that his girlfriend was hanging with other African Americans, even the great NBA legend Magic Johnson. He wanted her not to bring African Americans to his games and not to broadcast it on Instagram. He stated, " Yeah, it bothers me a lot that you want to promo-broadcast that you're associating with black people. Do you have to (Sterling)?" He also complained, " But why publicize it on the Instagram and why bring it to my games (Sterling)?" After the release of the recordings, the NBA community was in an uproar. In protest, the player of the Clippers wore their training jerseys inside out (Moore). As a result, Adam Silver , commissioner of the NBA, banned Donald Sterling for life. Sterling could not attend nor part...
The scholars expounds that Black athletes were commodities on the playing field to help win games and bring in revenue to their respected schools. However, the schools were just as eager and willing to leave their Black players behind and dishonoring the player as a part of the team. Therefore, not compromising the team’s winning and bring in profits for the school. Sadly, Black athletes at predominately White institutions (PWIs) who believed that they were bettering the live of themselves and their families members by going to college and playing collegiate sports to increase their post secondary careers. However, these athletes were only “show ponies” for their schools. Unfortunately, Black athletes had allegiance to their school; however, the school turned their backs on the athletes to protect the profit and notoriety of the school and the programs. Money and respect from White fans and spectators were more important to the PWIs than standing up for the respect of their Black players. Racial bigotry in sports was rampant and it was only going to get worse.
When I think about the black athlete I experience both pride and discomfort. In America where black people are still politically and economically disenfranchised, it appears that athleticism is the realm where black people excel and dominate. The discomfort comes from the observation that ‘domination’ is only viable when the black male body is harnessed in a way that doesn’t challenge white supremacy in other arenas (Collins, 2005). His body is controlled by contracts of powerful owners, regulated by standardized rules and by-laws from sporting associations and placed in physical spaces where his bodily performance is a spectacle for largely white audiences. There is something historic and normal about the sporting performance that has at once, drawn me in and isolated me. I didn’t quite know why. Ben Carrington’s work Race, Sport and Politics helps me to understand that these boundaries and meanings mark and define ‘the black athlete’ and that they can be understood as sites of political struggle. From the onset, I was captivated by his careful and through analysis of various social frameworks in order to utilize sports as a lens to understand the “intra relationship” between racial discourse, the performance of sport, and the politics in making the ‘black athlete’. In this paper I will explore the various concepts and contentions Carrington discovers as they apply to black males while he tries to formulate a framework to understand the complexity of race and sport and the politics created therein. I will focus on the key concepts essential to creating his theoretical framework specifically, ‘the black athlete’, the ‘white colonial frame’, and the ‘sporting black Atlantic’.
Whitaker, Matthew C.. African American icons of sport: triumph, courage, and excellence. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2008.
White college men perceived athletics as a way to show their superiority and justify their presence in business as well as politics. They believed athletic sports were essential in their "vision of white manhood" (Grundy, 29).... ... middle of paper ... ...which encouraged participants to develop both verbal eloquence and cool self-control" (Grundy, 169). In addition, because African Americans face greater restrictions and job competition compared to Whites, scholarships were very much valued and high school coaches worked to help African American athletes gain these scholarships.