Race Riots In Liberty City Miami

The University of Miami, a private institution in wealthy Coral Gables, is famously known to be a demanding academic school that is predominantly Caucasian. Though Miami is a very diverse city, a majority of the general public think of the wealthy and affluent white culture residing in Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and Dade County. These counties overshadowed the poverty stricken, gang affiliated area of Liberty City. Liberty City was known for several large race riots and most importantly, nurturing five star-caliber African American athletes. Miami football was at the center of a cultural and racial change spreading across the country. These players, descendants from hood culture, were on a mission to bring swagger to the Miami football program

Despite the neighborhood yielding five star athletes, most coaches avoided recruiting these individuals due to their edgy backgrounds. Schenllenberger started recruiting the “State of Miami,” which included only athletes born and raised in southern Florida. Howard traveled from Dade County, up to Broward and Palm Beach, and all the way to Daytona/Tampa, mapping off Southern Florida’s recruits from the rest of the Division 1 schools. After the sought after Alonzo Highsmith and Melvin Bratten signed up for the U, the rest of the Miami top talent followed suit to strap up and play for the Hurricanes. Something special was brewing in Miami, as the Bad Boys of college football were about to take the country by

African Americans make up approximately 12% of the population in the US, yet make up 37% of college football student athletes (Sailes.1994). Miami’s roster was mostly African American, which fueled the stigma as blacks are overrepresented in sports. Many think African Americans are physically different and possess traits that make them better athletes, but studies prove this stereotype is false. Anatomic research shows that there are significant differences between black and white athletes, but all are insignificant and do not give blacks an advantage on the field. (Sailes.1994) Even though studies prove this stereotype to be false, stacking will keep the belief in racial stereotypes. These stereotypes, fueled by the media, just amplified the race war that was developing amongst Coral Gables and Liberty City