Sport Exposure

Issues on race and ethnicity have been exposed by sports for many years now. African-Americans are seen as the great boxers, track and field athletes, and outstanding basketball players. Whites are seen to be dominant in sports such as golf, NASCAR, and ice hockey. However, people start to question when whites dominate in black dominated sports and vice versa. For example, when Tiger Woods began to blow up it caused speculation on what his race and ethnicity was. Society did not want to accept that an African-American was dominating a white sport. Woods was questioned not on his abilities but his skin color. 

Sport is useful in seeing the differences in race and ethnicity through the societal lens. Stereotypical ideas have been established in sports based on color and culture. If something indifferent in sport happens and it was not by the majority, outrage sparks. Society starts to question the persons race and ethnicity and not their character. For example, if an American-American ice hockey player fights a lot in the rink, he can be the target for black judgement. He can be seen as aggressive and unfit for a white dominated sport. As a result, the importance of sports have become vital in the exposure of race and ethnicity.

Fulwood, S., III. (2013, March 5). The Media's Stereotypical Portrayals of Race. Retrieved April 13, 2016, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/news/2013/03/05/55599/the-medias-stereotypical-portrayals-of-race/