In Philip J. Deloria’s Athletic chapter from his book “Indians in unexpected places” he talks about his grandfather’s connection to sports. He goes into further detail about how his grandfather’s place in sports is similar to other Native Americans. Native Americans used sports as a way to find their place in a new society. Sports was also used to strengthen the community. “Many Indian communities responded by drawing webs of kingship and unity ever tighter, trying to keep sport stars humble” (113). Athletics was now being used to bring all of the community, especially in times when it seemed divided. Sports also disproved the “Vanishing Indian” idea because society saw Native Americans playing in these sports and saw that they still existed.
The presence of activity and sport is found within cultures and societies all over the world, and throughout history. Activity in the form of sport can often be the purest form of expression for a society or individual. The sporting world is often thought to be a microcosm of the actual world with the problems and issues of society still being ever present in the sporting community. Since sport can be used as an expression of self, it is no wonder that sport is often a reflection of the society that it occupies. One such society that was deeply impacted by the role of sport is that of Native American boarding school students in the 1800’s and 1900’s. These students lived tough lives but just like how it had helped other cultural societies, sport was able to provide these students with basic needs of autonomy and pride.
In terms of racial inequality in baseball there have been many eras of integration. Baseball originally is seen as America’s national game belonging to the white men of America. However, throughout history there have been steps taken in recognizing and integrating those groups deemed “less favorable” by the American community. These groups include German immigrants, Irish immigrants, African Americans, Latinos, Native Hawaiians, Native Americans, and Asians. America used the game of baseball as a tool to indoctrinate the American ideals and values of teamwork, working hard, and collaborating for the greater good into the cultures of the “uncivilized world.” These groups used baseball as a medium to gain acceptance into the American community as racially equal counterparts.
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
I chose this topic because I thought that it was important to highlight the recent successes of the Latino baseball players to show how minority groups can prosper in America. Latino atheletes have gain notoriety and riches through the sport of baseball. These are things that they couldn’t have dreamed about achieving without Major League baseball. Major League Baseball has given Latin Americans the opportunity to better their economic and social situation.
Sports have been played all around the world for hundreds of thousands of years. Its help shaped the way we live as human beings. Everything reveals around sports these days. Take baseball for example, it’s has grown to be known as Americas past time. Mainly because it has help shaped America. How? Why? You may ask yourself. Baseball has been a sport that has been around for a long time all the way it roots date back to the late 1800. However it didn’t really get popular until the 1860. During this time America was going throw some difficulty’s because of World War 2 with Germany becoming an ultimate power house and African Americans not having equal rights. People turned to sports to put their minds to ease however African Americans wanted to be equal as well but people weren’t not giving them the respect they wanted to revise.
Sports played and continue to play a pivotal role in American history and culture. Baseball provided an escape from the stress and frustration of WWII, a beacon of light during hard times and later helped influence integration. Athletes became symbols of what being a true American meant and many sports enhanced American culture. One of the most prolific changes sports brought to our society was the beginning of racial equality on the field. It encouraged and aided the fledgling equal rights movement that evolved in the 1960s. African American athletes were considered second-class citizen until sports provided the first taste of equality. Teams life the Indians, Dodgers and Giants led the way for all teams to accept black players on equal footing. More sports then followed, helping to pave the way for the equal rights movement. African American athletes provided a spark of social and cultural change as America was at the emergence of the civil rights movement.
Contests in skill, strength and speed have occupied an important place in every culture throughout the ages. The meaning of the term sport and the effect that sport has on society is always changing. Sports have especially changed in the last two decades and can certainly be evidence by the growing number of labor disputes and court cases involving all sports.
While reviewing America’s history, many critical events are overlooked, yet led us to where we are today. From slavery, to women being allowed to vote, slowly equality for all has been pushed by our culture. In the more recent years, this includes sports too. Although officially the color barrier was broken in 1947, African-Americans along with other ethnicities have been hesitant to join what have been predominantly seen as white sports. From baseball to basketball, and even to football, diversity has lacked as a glance into the history of sports is seen. Not only is this diversity of ethnicities, but this has also included gender too. Over the last twenty years an emphasis on cultural diversity has effected American pastimes like sports, as a change in ethnicities and background of players has significantly pushed for equality of all genders and races.
African Americans integrating into the sports culture with other races is a big part of the United States and sports history. Some important events that led to this happening is Jackie Robinson, his role in American baseball, and how it gave an opportunity for african americans in other sports.
There are racial inequalities within sports throughout America. If more people were educated on issues, such as diversity, oppression (though racism and sexism), and cultural differences, it would expand America’s way of thinking, making it easier to grow as a society and as a nation. My research question is “Is there racial inequality in sports in America”.
Have you ever heard about racial discrimination and what is it? Racial discrimination is defined as the action of a persons who treat differently or who excludes another person just for his or her racial or ethnic origin. Racial discrimination continues to exist in the world and may never end with it. For example, in the documentary "Linsanity" Lin mentions that he was a victim of racial discrimination and that despite everything that happened, he was able to reach the American dream. Finally, from watching this documentary, I can strongly be argued that Discrimination is also present in sports, and that depends on what privileges you enjoy will be easier the way to reach what you want.
Sports have long been apart of the construction of Canadian identity, although racial and gender based issues have been a defining factor in league development. The mythology of sports presents the nation with a unifying force that often masks any social struggles. It has also become a political project, focused on two aspects: colonialism and modernization. Sports were an early attempt at classifying society and as a means for cultural imperialism. A Settler game, Baggataway, of the First Nations people was transitioned into the Euro-centric sport of lacrosse. The British saw the game as a colonizing tool, which helped to form the National identity. It became a means to shift an unwritten aspect of Canadian life, into a facet that dictated the larger states’ intent. Aboriginals have been placed under an ongoing struggle to find a secure spot within the Canadian sport spotlight, especially in terms of women’s involvement in lacrosse. They were looking to challenge traditional views with the modern...
...n and Spanish. Being forced to be on a team with them made me learn to cooperate with them and I ended up being good friends with most of them. I met two of my good friends Vic and Promise, both African Americans, through soccer and it might not have ever happened had I not been apart of the team. I am not the only person who made friends from different races through soccer. In the article "School sports is a safety net for youths: Less active youngsters often have problems trying to cope with life", Richard Lapchick says "As overt acts of racism and the number of school-based hate groups climb, the survey shows team sports create bonds that cut across racial lines; 76 percent of all white and African American student-athletes say they became friends with someone from another racial or ethnic group while playing sports."