Discussion 3 Responding to Race
"Over time, individuals in many societies came to use the term race to identify and rank
populations they believed were naturally or biologically distinct from other populations," I
genuinely think. This shift from a descriptive to a biology-based understanding of race was also
interconnected to efforts to rank competitions as superlative to flawed, assimilated to
uncivilized" (Coakley, 2021). As sad as it is, this "identification" of race in order to "rank
populations" is innately passed down from generation to generation; certain individuals learn and
are taught to identify race, and not in a positive way, but in a derogatory light. In my view,
nobody should be "recognized" or "rated" based on their race or racial ideas. Racial ideologies,
which are interconnected ideas and beliefs that are frequently used to categorize people in groups
based on traits like intelligence, temperament, and physical prowess, were developed as a result
of flawed "scientific" analyses combined with explorers' observations and anecdotal stories
(Coakley, 2021). "Race based thinking is so embedded in US tradition that many people view
race as an immutable natural reality that cannot be disregarded when it comes to perceiving
people, creating connectedness, and structuring worldview" (Coakley, 2021). Rather than just
seeing transcend "race," individuals in the United States have "acquired" to look at or perceive
"race" as a "fact of existence" and use that "fact" to classify people according to their "genetics"
attributes. In their culture, individuals utilize these particular delineations (race, which shouldn't
even be regarded as a categorisation in the first place) to justify the "usage of social distinctions
and disparities in social environments" (Coakley, 2021). Given the numerous discriminatory
practices that sportspeople and professional people encounter on a regular basis, you'll see a lot
more professional sports teams standing up and speaking out in defense of any social injustices.
Social media is a huge platform for professional teams and athletes, and you can see them using
it to fight for and take to the streets. "Athletes are key societal and cultural contributors. They
provide the 'voice' that social media websites endorse, and they also have the potential to impact
not only a specific issue or occurrence, but the rest of the world" (Kutzer, 2021). I firmly think
and see a substantial number of consultant sports people using their operating systems and being
that "voice" for alteration, but I don't see a lot of highly qualified league owners doing the same.
I genuinely think that the front offices of professional teams should use their voices a little more
in order for the transformation to insist on continuing or even increase. Introducing more people
and marketers, rather than just athletes. Not to say that coaches and front offices aren't speaking
out, but you see a lot more athletes using their voices than front offices and instructors.
Resources:
Coakley, J. (2021). Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies (13th edition). Published by
McGraw Hill.
Kutzer, M. (2021). Professional Athletes Role in Society Via Social Media. Loyola University
Maryland. Article retrieved from: https://www.loyola.edu/academics/emerging-
media/blog/2016/professional-athletes-social-media
