All the time I hear people classify sports based on race. African Americans play basketball, Hispanics play soccer, whites golf/ski/and race (cars, quads, motorbikes). You hear and see it so often that one begins assuming that your race determines what sport you will play. Most teenagers would assume that their fellow black student peers are good at basketball just because the NBA predominantly consist of black athletes. These general assumptions are examples of racial stereotyping and the lack of understanding between social class and sports. As we have learned ones economic resources determines what sport they play and where they play. Sports requires money in order to have an organized team, facility, and equipment. Therefore, social class determines what sports people play not race. Perhaps every sport has a more of cultural influence on a specific race but maybe thats because it was the only sport available at the time rather having to involve with biology. For example, Zirin points out that there was a period in the Bronx where danger lurked the streets and basketball was the only thing keeping kids off the streets along with Hip Hop. Families that are socio-economical disadvantaged cannot afford to place their child in sports that requires great expenses such as skiing and motorcross. Lower class families allow their children to play in sports that are provided in school or in city leagues which normally consist of soccer, baseball, and basketball. Therefore, we see a division of race in sports. Race in a sense shows the standings of individuals in economic terms. Statistics shows that minority groups such as blacks and latinos are considered lower class while white are middle/ upper class. It is important to make the relation between minorities and the lower class. Most minorities are lower class because they are discriminated in our systems. They are discriminated because of their race as every non-white individual is seen as a risk for failure (racial ideologies; blacks and hispanics stereotypes). People say that we are biological given the gift to play certain sports but the truth is society not biology has divided people in sports. It so happens that certain social class determines what sports we play. As we continue to see certain racial groups dominating specific sports in the U.S., we are reminded that the gap between the rich and poor still exist.
Valerie A.
kin 332i Tu/Th 12:30 -1:45
1 comment:
It's a sad reality that how much money our parents make, or what their social class is in society dictictates what types of sports we play, but the fact of the matter is that it is a reality. Our last theory paper I read read an article about social class in sports, and money is the key element to what we can and cannot do in the sporting world. While we see that the NBA is dominantly blacks, the NHL is white, we think that, that is all due to genetics, when in fact it's not. I agree with everything you talk about in your post about how it's society that determines what you play. For most minorities playing at a higher level is impossible due to the lack of funds to enable them to play. So most minorities dreams of making it to the big time is simply just a pipe dream that will never come true. I wish that money didn't control everything in the world, but that doesn't seem like it will change anytime soon. Until it does one thing is clear, only those that are socially privileged will be able to attain a higher level of sports, and the very few minorities that do make will continue to be an inspiration to many.
-J'Nay Almaguer Hawthorne
Kin 332I 12:30-1:45 PM T-Th
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