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Black excellence: a term that is possibly defined as the recognition and celebration of the successes of the black community. Lacking from the definition is the idea that the acknowledgement of the excellence for black community is directly correlated to the experience of racism. In order for black excellence to be acknowledged, you must discuss the racism it had to overcome in order to reach said excellence. In the essay entitled “The Meaning of Serena Williams”, author Claudia Rankine discusses the career of tennis phenomenon Serena Williams and the natural excellence that she embodies. Throughout the essay, Rankine explores the perceptions of Serena’s excellence in relation to her identity as a black woman. For Rankine, while she never explicitly defines black excellence, she refers to the phrase when she states, “Only after they give 150 percent will white Americans recognize black excellence for what it is” (Rankine). They, in this case, refers to the black community and the belief among the community that in order to achieve recognition for being excellent, you must work harder than members of the white community. Even when acknowledged, it is often hypocritical because the acknowledgement stems from the idea that despite being black, you were able to achieve some sort of excellence. This is the problem. Rankine’s essay …show more content…
Staples says, “And on late-evening constitutionals along streets less traveled by, I employ what has proved to be an excellent tension-reducing measure: I whistle melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi and the more popular classical composers” (Staples). Staples continues to say, “Virtually everybody seems to sense that a mugger wouldn’t be warbling bright, sunny selections from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons” (Staples). Staples choses to alter his image in order to prepare for the racism that he may
Growing up as an African-American you are always taught to be twice as good. Twice as good as the white people to receive the same treatment as them. I grew up hearing this same phrase constantly but never really understood exactly what it meant until I got old enough to actually see the kind of world we are living in. The author of the article, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” Peggy Mclntosh, took as step into shoes of black America and found that white privilege not only exist, but many whites are blind to it. She gives a clear argument about how white privilege is harmful to our society and how we can work together to fix this.
The Williams Sisters: double trouble on the tennis court, Gabby Douglas: 2 times Olympic Gold Medalist, and Lolo Jones: a fierce Olympic competitor in hurdles and now bobsledding are all present day athletes that have captivated headlines with their accomplishments through sports. The Civil Rights Movement altered everyday life for all African Americans and soon other minorities in America. The movement also changed the world of sports for African American legends to come as well. Previous accomplishments of African Americans in sports propelled Althea Gibson to make her mark in history. Althea would change the world of sports, impact future athletes to come, and leave her mark in history. Her athletic greatness would not only be bestowed on the tennis court, but golfy would receive its fair share of Althea’s greatness as well. None of her accomplishments would have been made possible without the Civil Rights Movement that allowed African Americans to enter the world of sports.
Men and women who chose to engage in sports from which they would traditionally be discouraged because of their gender, particularly as professionals, redefine the sport. The social and cultural "costs" are not the result of the individual's participation, but rather the way in which sports have been socially, politically, and economically constructed. Gender is only one of the few ways in which people are categorized according to their proficiency for some athletic activities. Race and class are also factors which may prevent individuals from engaging in sports that have been traditionally excluded to them. Socially constructed notions of race, class, and sexuality compound the way in which the history of sports has developed. For example, black women athletes may be more accepted in certain sports than in others, i.e. black women in the WNBA might seem as less an anomaly for black women than for white women, and yet the success of the Williams sisters in tennis may seem more out of the ordinary for many Americans than the success of their white counterparts. Race, class, sex, and sexuality are the operative notions in which certain sports are less "traditional" for certain groups.
On September twenty-second in the year 1862, President Abraham Lincoln executively ordered the Emancipation Proclamation during the American Civil War. This command declared the freedom of all slaves in the ten Confederate States of America. Slavery was completely abolished in all states with the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment on December sixth in the year 1865. Since then African Americans have been free to live their lives without being owned, claimed, bought, or sold. Although this was a start, it definitely was not enough for African Americans to be considered equal. With all of the progression African Americans and other minorities have made, there are still obstacles the modern day ethnic-American faces. Some of these obstacles lay within a shared interest amongst Americans, sports. It has been hypothesized in the journal article “Race and Pathways to Power in the National Football League” by author Jomills Henry Braddock II, that a retired African American athlete would face struggles when trying to move into the coaching field or front office positions (Braddock 2012, 712). In the journal article, “Weighing in on the Coaching Decision: Discussing Sports and Race Online,” author Jimmy Sanderson explains to readers that the realm of the sports world has been heavily linked to white ideology (Sanderson 2010, 302). One cannot fully live the American Dream without sustaining successful and promising career goals. It is possible that people of color can get their foot on the first rung of the corporate ladder but actually climbing their way towards the top has proven to be a difficult and almost impossible task. It is evident that affirmative action has not been able to protect minorities from stereotypes and discrimination...
There aren’t too many cases of racism in the NBA, but when there is it brings emotions out of the different races, players, coaches, managers, and most of all fans. Today there are many different situations that are changing the way that players act like the most recent.
For too long, I too thought like this. I had a hard time identifying with African-Americans and was too easy to judge them for their lack of effort or their lack of collective success. It was not until I started reading books like the Autobiography of Malcolm X and the Autobiography of Angela Davis that I finally began to see the bigger picture and started to get in tune with the very meaning of African-Americanism. It was then that I finally understood what a systematic effort to undermine the very identity of African-Americans could do to black folk in America.
In “Black Men in Public Space” it seems that he is not angry about how people treat him, yet he is more aware of it. Staples feels like he knows people are not judging him as a person, but by the color of his skin and the stereotypes that there are about black men. The article says “I whistle melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi and the more popular classical composer. Even Steely New Yorkers hunching toward nighttime destinations seem to relax, and occasionally they join in the tune” (Staples 162.) Meaning Staple sings classical music, so people do not think he is a mugger walking the streets at night. In “Right Place, Wrong Face” the tone is angry. White is angry and upset, for he is wrongly accused of a crime he did not commit. White says “ I sat in that cell crying silent tears of disappointment and injustice with the realization of how many innocent black men are convicted for no reason”(230.) White was not only angry about the situation, but he was also embarrassed. White says “Before I was finally let go, exhausted, humiliated, embarrassed, and still in shock”
The history of sports goes back since ancient times. It has been a useful way for people to explore nature and their environment. Sports include different activities and games such as football, soccer, basketball, and etc. to express their skills and talents. Also, sports are a way to relax and have fun; but are sports all our African Americans rely on? The dream to become future sports stars. The reason why Gates begins his essay with an anecdote is to show and compare how many african-american athletes were at work today and how little the chances of African-Americans becoming athletes are compared to being a lawyer, dentist, or even a doctor. African-Americans assume that they are born athletes and it’s because the school system doesn’t teach them reality and educate them to undertake more realistic goals for careers.
According to Crenshaw, even though the White House, through their signature gender-and-race targeted initiatives address racism, they still tend to undermine and ignore black girls. Okazawa-Rey and Kirk define racism as racial prejudice and discrimination that are supported by institutional power and authority, where there is an existence of the ideology of white superiority and is used to the advantages of white people and the disadvantages of people of color (Okazawa-Rey and Kirk G-5). This leads Crenshaw, to use the next theory, sexism, as a base to elaborate her article, thus naming it, ‘Black Girls Matter.’ Sexism can be defined as the “attitudes, actions, and institutional practices that subordinate individuals because of their gender” (Okazawa-Rey and Kirk
The growing debate about the mascots, logos, and team names used in sports has been an issue since the 1960’s-1970’s. The argument that is at hand is depicting if these symbols are a representation of pride or if they can be classified as racist. There are many supporters to both sides of this debate. Many on one side are arguing that the symbols are clearly racist while others on the opposing side are making claims that the symbols are an honor to whom they are portraying and are negatively connected to racism. There also the individuals who do not identify with either side, obtaining the belief that these symbols are a representation of the organization itself rather that creating a backstory or an image associated to anything other than the organization represented by an image. With many debates and issues regarding the topic happening annually, the question remains, what should be done about the racism issue in the sports industries?
In Rita Williams-Garcia’s book “One Crazy Summer” the theme for it was based around racism. She definitely showed that no matter what race a person, every person is equal. I agree with this theme. A reason I agree with it would be is that a color shouldn’t change your perspective on a person. When I look at a person, I look for personality and not what they look like or what they “should” look like. I also believe that everyone should stand up for what is right. If it’s racial discrimination, sexism, or ageism. Always stand up for the positive side. It has a major impact on this world. Rita Williams-Garcia made huge impact on this world with her Newbery Honor novel One Crazy Summer.
The challenge is to someday reach a point where the accomplishment by non-Whites isn’t "against all odds." On that day we will rejoice success of any another winner in the competitive game, rather than the first irregularity to defeat a poor system.
Wilma went to physical therapy with her mom two times a week at a black hospital. It was hard to get to because it was 50 miles away and Wilma and her mom had to take a bus to get there. Wilma’s family never stopped encouraging her to do her exercises to help her walk. Wilma’s teacher also encouraged her. She said “Don’t dream about it. Wilma, I want you to do it” (Schraff 18). Wilma’s teacher was teaching her to never give up. Wima remembered this for the rest of her life. When her coach put her on the bench she never gave up. On the bench she would study the game and winning plays. Then she started racing. After losing one race Wilma said “Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday” (Sherrow 24). Wilma realized that an important quality is being able to pick yourself up after a defeat. Wilma’s mother encouraged her to be a good runner in order to get a college scholarship. Later Wilma met the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. He complimented her on her athletic abilities and said “Don’t let anything, or anybody, keep you from running“ (Sherrow 26). This meant a lot to her. She later wrote “For the first time in my life, I had a black person I could look up to as a real hero” (Sherrow 26). Jackie Robinson was Wilma’s first black
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” (Maya Angelou “Quotes”). Maya Angelou is an African American author who wanted the whole world to know who she was. Even though Maya Angelou’s life was full of disappointments and miseries, she still managed to rise above them all to become a successful poet. Racism played a really big role in Maya Angelou’s life. Maya Angelou witnessed slavery when she was very young and wished that someday all men will be free. Maya Angelou had many difficulties, and her family was one of them. None of her marriages worked out, and had a son to raise on her own.
For decades, African Americans have been on a racial discrimination and extremely deadly roller coaster ride for justice and equality. In this new day and age, racial tendencies and prejudice has improved since the 1700-1800s,however, they are slowly going back to certain old ways with voting laws and restaurants having the option to serve blacks or not. It all began with the start of slavery around 1619. The start of the New World, the settlers needed resources England and other countries had, which started the Triangle Trade. The New England settlers manufactured and shipped rum to West Africa; West Africa traded slaves to the West Indies for molasses and money . From the very beginning, they treated African Americans like an object or animals instead of another human being with feelings and emotions. Women that were pregnant gave birth to children already classified as slaves. After the American Revolution, people in the north started to realize the oppression and treatment of blacks to how the British was treating them. In 1787, the Northwest Territory made slavery illegal and the US Constitution states that congress could no longer ban the trade of slaves until 1808 (Brunner). However, since the invention of the cotton gin, the increase for labor on the field increased the demand for slave workers. Soon the South went thru an economic crisis with the soil, tobacco, and cash crops with dropped the prices of slaves and increased slave labor even more. To ensure that the slaves do not start a rebellion, congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act in 1793 that made it a federal crime to assist a slave in escaping (Black History Milestones). This is the first of many Acts that is applied to only African-Americans and the start of many ...