Race in the world of sports causes a significant issue. The increasing discussion of racism in sports dates back 20 years ago in the story of the Fab Five, a Cinderella team from Michigan who made a run during March Madness and who also had a starting five of African-Americans. They were a group of guys who bought in an era that exemplified the hip-hop revolution that was emerging in the early 90s. The Fab Five wore baggy shorts with tall black socks, tattoos, and headphones. They were changing the game of college basketball.
This article describes their journey throughout their experiences as student-athletes at Michigan and the hatred towards African-Americans from the mainstream media.
Rogers, D. (2011, March 18). Jalen Rose: Review of Fab Five Documentary on ESPN.
Retrieved April 11, 2016, from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/639448-jalen-rose-fab- five-documentary-on-espn-a-job-well-done
I watched this documentary on ESPN and you are absolutely right. The Fab Five actually brought in, and inundated the college basketball world with a whole new style of fashion. I thought it was interesting that ESPN focused so much on the "thug" look the starting five of all African-American men had. Michigan, being a predominately white university at the time, received a lot of backfire for the way the Fab 5 would act during basketball games. They were flashy, and confident in their play, but many thought this was a sign of arrogance and superiority, two characteristics that many whites at the time resented in the African-American players.
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