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The role of sport in politics
Essay on athletes and politics
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“Ali was banished from boxing for years for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. It took the country years to acknowledge the courage and wisdom in the [position he] took”(Wendel). In this current day and age, professional athletes should represent their position that they take on conflicts by utilizing their social prominence. The concept that influential people, companies, or socialites can sway crowds to fight for a cause has become more efficient due to modern times. More than ever, the world is connected through variations of media and technology which allow words from anyone to travel virtually anywhere. When taken advantage of efficiently, people such as Colin Kaepernick can use their platform to shed light on issues that are ignored …show more content…
He was risking so much knowing that America would be judging and criticizing his actions that were seemingly selfish at the time. After the realization came across that Ali was protesting against an inhumane obligation, he was able to influence peace to the many crowds who followed him. This same process has all rights to apply to modern day times since America is once again facing racial and ignorant injustices. If Ali can influence his own crowd, Kaepernick should help bring attention to issues that need to be brought into everyday conversations. Racism will never be completely eradicated, but the world must start somewhere. Words that can spark the dawn of dynamic change should not be kept in the dark. Additionally, the writer Kofie Yeboah, from The Undefeated, feels similarly about how prominent athletes should use their influence to protest issues and conflicts. In “A Timeline of Events Since Colin Kaepernick’s National Anthem Protest”, one can see how other important figures in American society see the true courage of Kaepernick's kneelings. Many military veterans have “[spoken] out, [stating] that they fight for the quarterback’s right to protest and started the trending hashtag
...o far ahead that people don’t realize what you’re doing until years later.” (page 46, Carlos) Now 45 years later, have people finally realized what John Carlos and Tommie Smith were doing October 16? Neither Carlos nor Smith regrets their decision to this day. Despite the challenges and obstacles they faced, Carlos believed what they did was far more important than their lives and could live with the history he created. In contrast to their iconic peers, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X to name a few, Carlos and Smith stood in unison in their demonstration. The significance of the fist-raised is a power beckon of strength for everyone to take with them in any given situation. The entire world has broadcasted their rebellious image and has interpreted their own meanings about the most historic moment in sports and the broader community.
Ali proved to be a strong-willed individual that did leave a huge impact on America, but what impact had increased as time continued and his faults have been somewhat forgotten. Those believing that Muhammad was more of a hero than Jackie Robinson most likely feel that Ali’s action of standing up against the United States government, when he was drafted, was an act of courage and bravery. The main reason why Ali didn 't wish to go to war in Vietnam was because he believed he shouldn 't be fighting for a country that ultimately didn 't support his own people within its own borders. Ali has developed into a figure of courage after the time that his happened. In the 1960s when this originally happened, Ali had more enemies as a result of his religious and social views and ideas than fans. Today we see that what he did may be considered heroic, but back when it actually occurred, Ali was seen as a nuisance to America. He was spreading word and influencing people to act against their own country in a time of war. Since Muhammad Ali’s retirement from boxing the course of time has faded criticism of Ali and left mostly just the positive parts of his life and career. As a society we’ve buried the controversial side of Ali’s existence in our minds and history simply remembers his greatness as an athlete. Robinson had an impact on
Following recent cases of police brutality and racial oppression, many public figures are taking it upon themselves to stand against the issues. In this matter, Colin Kaepernick has been in the spotlight since his protest during a preseason game in August, where he took a knee during the National Anthem. In the articles “The Colin Kaepernick Effect; Another Athlete Stands Up For Social Issues” by LA Watts Times Sports Writer, Amanda Scurlock and “Colin Kaepernick’s Critics Called Him an Idiot. Who’s the Idiot Now?” by Slate Executive Director, Josh Levin, the authors talk about how Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful protest has had many positive and negative backlash. Kaepernick has received much support from not only his fans, but also people such
The 1968 Olympics in Mexico City was the most popular medal ceremony of all time, as Tommie Smith and John Carlos delivered the black power salute while on the medal stand, (Witherspoon, 2003). In Mexico City, Smith finished first in the 200 metres race, achieving a new world record, Carlos on the other hand finished third. Both athletes decided to each wear one black glove and black socks during their victory stand, whilst the American national anthem played, they also bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists (Ashe, 2007). Peter Norman of Australia came second and also took part in the protest by wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge as a way of protesting against racial discrimination in all countries. This iconic image not only represents one of the most memorable moments of Olympic history, but a milestone in America's civil rights movement, (Gettings, 2012). This essay will look at the overall impact that the iconic image had on the civil rights movement and the idea behind it.
Have you ever been protested and demonstrated against? Jackie Robinson felt the outcry of America during his baseball career. Fighting not only for his future, but also for the overall well-being of his sport, Robinson received death threats for his efforts. On a daily basis, this disciplined African man fought the pressures of hatred toward his entire race. As a segregated country, America saw major league baseball as a white man’s sport. Robinson was the outlier in an otherwise American “tradition.” Society observed Robinson’s play on the field with extremely bias eyes. No matter the achievement; no matter the obstacle; many still discredited his abilities due to the color of his skin. Over time skeptics gave in to their malice. Robinson broke the color barrier in American sports! Through perseverance and a stable mind, Jackie Robinson shattered the segregation of sports and started a revolution! Although,sport equality is not completely perfect in this world, Jackie Robinson’s contributions towards American sports, desegregation, and society will never be forgotten throughout the world.
Throughout history, social movements have continuously formed because of a person who had the courage to stand up against the injustice they witnessed in every day live. When I was a child, I remember feeling as if it takes a superhero-like person to start a social movement. However, I have found that through the use of social media today, any person with a passion for making a change can spark a social movement. Social movements are a powerful way to help people believe that their voice matters and they should stand up for what they believe in. Before the advancement of technology, it took a lot longer for social movements to become prominent in society’s media outlets because of the difficulties of not having enough time in one’s life to
At one point african american athletes were not able to fight racism by being the best in the world at what they loved. In the past couple of years that has changed. Now days african american athletes are the idols fro many white and black individuals. Because of this whole change on how white people sees the professional black athletes in comparison to the black communities indicates that they way race and gender are represented in sports has no connection to our society. Is not an accurate comparison at all. While some policemen are being racist to the black communities, those same policemen pay money to see their african american idol do what they love to do. This is why I believe african american professional athlete should use their platform to spread their perspective on the racial issues this country is going through. Many people does not like the way Colin Kaepernick is protesting against the racial injustice, but by just kneeling during the anthem he is bringing the racial injustice topic to be seen as a national level. This are the type of action african american professional athletes should be doing to try to equal the respect they get in the court to the respect a black individual should have in the
Football games are no longer enjoyable because politics has made its way to the stadiums taking the joy away when a person sees their favorite player kneeling. They can’t know or understand why they are choosing to kneel so to them they see no reason to respect it. What if that player themselves had served, lost a loved one in the military, or have known someone to be a victim of a social injustice like police brutality? Where’s the
“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.
Not since Muhammad Ali has a professional athlete protest caused such an uproar but unfortunately the reason Ali protested the draft was the same reason Colin took a knee. The Ali and Kaepernick comparison perfectly illustrates the fact that discrimination and racism still run rampant in America as it did back during Vietnam war. What people fail to realize about Colin's protest is that it has absolutely nothing to do with the military each branch has its individual song and flag. My 3 years of Air Force service wasn't for a flag or a song it was for Colin's freedom to protest that flag and song. The flag and national anthem are supposed to represent freedom for all that live
Argument Against a Ban on Boxing The entertaining sport of boxing, an athletic event consisting of numerous health conflictions, has been receiving some heat from legal and medical advocates, yet “Some of the qualities that have open boxing to attack have, at the same time, been its salvation”(Sammons 235). Boxing, which has been in existence and evolved from other forms of fighting longer than this country has been established, is a skill, talent, an ambition, and for most professional fighters, a love. Professional boxing, like virtually any physical recreation, is performed so that there are health risks, yet it is the athletes right to decide their personal levels of danger. Indeed, boxing discloses America’s disposition towards tradition. During the United States’ brief history, Americans have consistently managed to acquire cultural, social, political, and intellectual institutions from England, leaving no surprise to why the modern controversial sport of boxing, or prizefighting, traveled over sea to America.
Colin kaepernick wasn't the first athlete to protest.At a sports awards show in July, basketball players Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul took the stage together. They urged their fellow athletes to become more socially involved.They want more athletes for more fans to get their message.Most athletes get in trouble for their opinions. In 1968, African-American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos led the black power salutes, a political demonstration at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico.Their fans realize they can't take a simple stand without
"Politics has come to be considered not only inappropriate in the arena of sports, but actually antithetical to it," Zirin says. "We want so much to see sports solely as an arena of play, not seriousness. But here's the thing, this can cheapen not only the greatness and relevance of sports to us as a society, but also the courage of the athletes" . The pursuit of fame, wealth and status can blind the human conscience, which is why it is important for us to encourage athletes to voice their opinions. As a nation, we should not silence our athletes, because it is the truly courageous athletes who have the audacity to stand up when it is socially unacceptable. Sports should be used as a platform for a certain kind of politics such as militarism, nationalism and human rights. A few athletes stand out as political advocates of their time who were not afraid to express their opinions: Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, and Billie-Jean King. There is a rich tradition of resistance to politics in sports, but their actions have been integral to country’s struggle for racial and gender equality; sports are a safe place to discuss these difficult topics and therefore is essential.
"Politics has come to be considered not only inappropriate in the arena of sports, but actually antithetical to it," Zirin says. "We want so much to see sports solely as an arena of play, not seriousness. But here's the thing, this can cheapen not only the greatness and relevance of sports to us as a society, but also the courage of the athletes" (The Nation). The pursuit of fame, wealth and status can blind the human conscious, which is why it is important for us to encourage athletes to speak their minds. As a nation, we should not silence the athletes, because it is the truly courageous athletes who have the audacity to stand up when it’s not popular. Sports should be used as a platform for a certain kind of politics: militarism, nationalism. There is a rich tradition of resistance to politics in sports, but their actions have been integral to country’s struggle for racial and gender equality; sports are a safe place to discuss these difficult topics.
The downfall of the influence that the media has on sports is that they can be bias toward situation that may arise in the sports world. There can also be too much or not enough sports coverage on at time when society needs them. Athletes often feel that they receive too much attention and can’t live their lives. A prime example is Seattle Seahawk running back Marshawn Lynch, who has publicly voiced his frustration with the media, even going as far as answering every question asked with “I’m just here, so I wont get fined” twenty-five times during Super Bowl media