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Reactions: Out of Bounds: Racism and the College Athlete Part I

I chose chapter 5, which delved into how certain racial and ethnic groups have been historically and contemporarily tied to some sports but not others. Using critical race theory and other theories of intersectionality, there is a new structure through which to observe these perceived relations, that being the critical demography of athletic destinations. Personally, I think it is interesting that this text brings up critical race theory, as it has been so controversially discussed in the past few months in terms of it being taught in schools. To anyone who had a couple of working neurons, it is obvious that a lot of our history and governmental infrastructure is based on outdated racial and ethnic ideals which do not allow marginalized communities to advance in the same way that white people have been allowed to do for millennia.

“The purpose for introducing critical race theory was to draw attention to society as it is and society as it ought to be. [Derrick] Bell felt it necessary to address the gap between the real and the imagined, and to do in a way that was at once a radical critique of the law and a radical emancipation by the law.” (Martin, 106).

I like this passage in particular because despite many, many people skewing what they assume critical race theory is, the text describes, as clear as day, that it is simply taking another look at the prescribed systems in this country and those who benefit from it without the sugar-coating.

Martin, L. L. (2014). Out of bounds: Racism and the black athlete. Praeger, An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC.

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The Good, The Bad, and The Just Plain Weird.

Billie Jean King

As an American former world #1 tennis player, King is one of the bravest athletes I’ve ever come to know. In 1973, she won the Battle of The Sexes match against Bobby Riggs, and she also founded the Women’s Tennis Association and the Women’s Sports Foundation. But in 1981, her career took a hit after being outed as queer to the world. Many advised her to deny these claims, but she stood her ground and spoke her truth. She became a beacon of hope for so many, and still to this day, remains a queer icon for the LGBTQ+ community.

Simone Biles

As the gymnast with the most World medals, Simone Biles stands the test of time as one of the best athletes of this generation. She’s only 24 and has managed to make a gold-plated name for herself in the ten years she’s been professionally active in gymnastics. Even for those that don’t know jack about sports, they still know her name and her face. I especially admire her after her ‘controversy’ of backing out of the 2020 Olympics due to experiencing the ‘twisties’ and advocating for the mental health of athletes. Despite knowing all the backlash she would experience, she went on to talk about such a taboo subject in sports. That’s the definition of bravery.

Gertrude Ederle

Ederle, born on October 23rd, 1905 in New York City, became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. She also held world records in five events, and was an Olympic champion. At twelve years old, she set the world record for the 880-yard freestyle. She emerged into her career at the time that women still had to wear stockings to swim, so all of her achievements were groundbreaking and even rebellious at the time, and perhaps are still considered as so today. During her 14 hour trek through the English Channel, there came a point when winds were far too strong to be safe for her in the water, and her trainer urged her to come out, to which she famously replied, “what for?”

O.J. Simpson

This one may seem like an obvious one, but I don’t dislike him because of the suspicion surrounding his involvement in the murder of his ex-wife. I dislike him because instead of allowing the media circus to die down, like any normal person would do after such a harrowing ordeal, he continued to poke and prod. He also accepted $600,000 from the publishing of the book If I Did It, which was actually written by a ghost writer and Simpson had nothing to do with the contents. But he accepted the money, he did not stop the publishing process, and he’s continued to profit off of this tragic incident. Anyone who was completely guilt-free and wished to not be a part of this in the first place would just take some time away from the cameras and the limelight.

Works Cited

Jackson, S. C. (2017, September 25). 'it was horrible': Billie Jean King recalls being outed in 1981. NBCNews.com. Retrieved October 29, 2021, from https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/it-was-horrible-billie-jean-king-recalls-being-publicly-outed-n804451.

Life story: Gertrude Ederle, 1906–2003. Women & the American Story. (2021, June 24). Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://wams.nyhistory.org/confidence-and-crises/jazz-age/gertrude-ederle/.

Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, October 1). If I did it. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 29, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_I_Did_It.

Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, October 25). Simone Biles. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Biles.

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Reaction: Sports Can Start Meaningful Conversationsby Andy Billings

On first impressions, Billings made some fantastic points in the history of sports and intersectionality, and how this affects representation and perception. He was concise, gave anecdotes that may have been difficult to talk about, and was overall successful in getting his point across. Sports can change us. Maybe not the actual games themselves, although they can help us be in better shape and have a good time. But it is the players and their achievements that truly make an impact.

There isn’t much of a discourse around sports for inner city schools or marginalized communities as much as there is for arts. And I’m not ranking on the arts at all, don’t get me wrong. As a liberal arts major that would be like stabbing my self in the back, somehow. But sports can be far more effective in certain areas for adolescents, areas that art can’t reach. Especially for students that may not have the same life opportunities as their more affluent counterparts. Billings discusses athletes that, despite not having these same opportunities, still made a name for themselves in an area where they faced the greatest obstacles. And that is the most admirable thing one can do. Sports can change us, and make us better people, more empathetic, but only if we’re willing to listen, and play the game.

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Reactions: Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers, Facing Obstacles p. 123-184

In chapter 8, it became increasingly hard to remain unbiased toward the arguments presented in the text. As I read about FIFA and the whole turf ordeal, it was difficult to not get overwhelmingly upset, and to imagine how these women must have felt in that moment as well. Because the unfairness of this decision goes past just prejudice or misogyny, it’s straight up dangerous. To play soccer, you need to trust your body in knowing how to react and how to play safely and to the best of your ability. You cannot do so when the surface you are on is unsafe and may lead to injury if you were to fall, which is highly likely in soccer. You’d be far too concerned on not falling or hurting yourself that you would not be able to focus on the game. And yet, FIFA continued to dig their own grave:

“FIFA claimed the manufacturing of this synthetic grass would benefit countries that struggle with climate issues as well as the inability to afford the upkeep of natural grass facilities. That being said, the men’s 2018 World Cup will be played in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Both locations experience vast extremes in climate, making both ideal candidates for the installment of FIFA Recommended 2 Star turf. However, the men will play both tournaments on grass.” (Milner, Braddock, 155).

After being sued for discrimination and harassment for an awful decision, how can you turn around and pull this? It was obvious that they forced the women’s team to play on turf not because of the ‘convenience’ as they so claimed, but because they did not care for the repercussions the players may face. They did not care, and they continued not to care as they also scheduled the 2022 men’s World Cup to also be played on grass. And I completely agree with the text, as it states that, “… FIFA believed they potentially had an identical pitch to natural grass, but they needed a set of guinea pigs to confirm their theories, and they chose the top women in the world as their subjects.” (Milner, Braddock, 155). This was deliberate, and they wouldn’t dare use the men as test subjects because they would quit or go on strike. But the women can’t, because opportunities are not as abundant for them in the field (pun not intended) as they are for men. It’s disappointing that presumably respectable institutions can stoop so low and be so arrogant and obvious with their prejudice and will continue to do so because no one with real power has stood up to them.

Milner, A. N., & Braddock, J. H. (2017). Women in sports breaking barriers, facing obstacles. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

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Reactions: Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers, Facing Obstacles p. 77-122

This section of the text delved into black female athletes and sportspersonship, and what it means to be an assertive or dominant athlete. I wasn’t expecting sunshine and rainbows, and yet the standard always seems to go lower than before. For black female athletes, all of your actions are held under a microscope, but we all know this is the case for women and POC in every aspect, not just sports. In the case of Serena Williams, the media has always portrayed her as masculine and aggressive and determined. However, these qualities are not exactly their downfall, as we’d expect them to be. “Black females, like White males, are allowed to express strong negative emotions with less sanctions and often receive praise or earn respect for exhibiting dominance.” (Brooks, 80). But this takes away from how the person actually behaves. I remember seeing Williams in a music video for Beyoncé's song “Sorry” and seeing her dancing in a more feminine environment really made me realize how much the media has changed her image.

Moreover, there is a section of the text that bothered me a bit, not because of the text itself, but because of the implications on how women are treated on a grand scale:

“Athletes are celebrities, and the most visible ones are often followed, the subject of popular news—good, bad, and otherwise. The controversies for top-earning women athletes have been conventionalized. Their sportspersonship is questioned (they quit in tough situations, blame others when they fail, stretch and violate rules, are coached illegally) and they gossip and fight over men and compete for attention. Sportspersonship is behaving in a “sporting” way, in a manner that is in line with good muscular Christianity, exhibiting dominant values and morals. But female athletes are held to a gendered standard as well. Their sportspersonship can be questioned because they’re not behaving as a “lady” as well as not acting as a good sport. A majority of the controversies for women tennis players that happen on the court reinforce that they are women, the traditionally perceived inferior sex, and more childlike than their male counterparts.” (Brooks, 87).

This text, in truth, is infuriating. The commodification of female athletes has gone so far that any display of human emotion, emotion that male athlete would never be reprimanded for, is a display of aggression or noncompliance. Its awful, and yet it makes sense. Because athletes in general are used as product, to trade and bargain for a better price. So it only makes sense that it would be worse for women and POC.

Milner, A. N., & Braddock, J. H. (2017). Women in sports breaking barriers, facing obstacles. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

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Reactions: Women in Sports: Breaking Barriers, Facing Obstacles

After doing some research on Adrienne Milner and Jomills Henry Braddock II, I found them to be double published authors. Milner has a MA and PhD in Sociology from the University of Miami and now teaches at Brunel University in London. Braddock also has the same qualifications and teaches at the University of Miami. This lends itself to the assertion that this text is well researched and very credible, and as I skimmed through the endless Amazon reviews, I’m glad to state I’m not the only person who thinks so.

On initial impressions, the text was very clear and descriptive, though it talked about some hard-hitting topics. I had no idea of the things that went on in the Lingerie Football League (LFL), and was frankly disgusted once I read through it. The fact that this was even allowed without a second thought is horrifying. These attitudes continue to be enforced in the realm of sports, especially in these barbaric practices of having women playing dangerous contact sports in lingerie without medical insurance. Nonetheless, I also like the matter-of-fact tone of the writing. It does not try to sway you any which way, it only presents the information and allows you to make up your own opinions. Overall, it was a good read, and by good I mean quite infuriating but endlessly informative.

Works Cited

Dr Adrienne Milner: Brunel University London. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2021, from https://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/adrienne-milner

Jomills Braddock. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2021, from https://people.miami.edu/profile/braddock@miami.edu#panelResearch

Milner, A. N., & Braddock, J. H. (2017). Women in sports breaking barriers, facing obstacles. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

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Reaction: The Female Athlete: Missing in Action by Cheryl Cooky

In Cheryl Cooky’s TED Talk, she delves into the lack of coverage of women’s sports in the media and the commercialization of female athlete’s bodies. It was really interesting to watch, and she talked on a lot of things that are far too overlooked. It was also infuriating, particularly the part in which she brings up that a news broadcast covered a stray dog that got into a stadium rather than the NCAA tournament and other women’s sports events that were taking place. Moreover, the video she shows of how female athletes were interviewed and how it would sound if those same questions were asked to male athletes, was especially incendiary. And there are many that would claim ‘oh, people just don’t watch women’s sports regularly”, which, sure but aren’t there millions of people who don’t watch men’s sports yet they’re still televised? It isn’t about who’s watching, it's about who can’t watch at all.

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Reaction: From Jack Johnson to LeBron James, Chapter 16 & 21

These couple of chapters focused on modern black figures in sports, namely Michal Jordan and LeBron James. In chapter 21, a particular passage stuck out to me, as it reiterated the image that a black athlete displays when they go against the ideas of their white audience:

“The James decision also was particularly noteworthy because he is a black athlete. Historically, the agency and opportunities for black athletes has been restricted. In the twentieth century many white critics, both players and officials, would not accept integrated competition and discouraged activism in sports.” (Ratchford, 5).

This passage shows how even though much time has passed between the initial aggression towards black athletes in the beginning of the textbook, attitudes have not changed much. Black athletes are still expected to be at the beck and call of their officials and white teammates. It’s disgusting, in truth. Moreover, in Chapter 16, the way in which Michael Jordan is treated by the media and by audiences as a product to be profited from is grotesque:

“The commodification of Michael Jordan also signals the loss of political agency and the once- radical political potential of black athletes. Michael Jordan as a spectacular athlete and willing corporate apologist stands in stark contrast to another powerful vision of yesteryear: that of African American athletes as political activists and outspoken critics of the establishment” (McDonald, 7).

They no longer see him as a person, they see him as powerless. It also didn’t help that he was complacent for lack of a better word. But his reasoning is completely understandable. For someone who wants to keep a peaceful career and stay out of controversy, which seems to follow black men throughout history, this is a perfect choice. You are not angering any white person who may have the power to cast you out or challenge your already fragile place in society and in celebrity.

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Reaction: From Jack Johnson to LeBron James, Chapter 9 & 11

There is a particular passage in Chapter 9, wherein the interests of the whites leading such institutions are placed in a clear light:

“The 1940 Cotton Bowl and the 1941 Sugar Bowl revealed the fierce determination of white southerners to maintain the color line in college football and the willingness of ambitious northern universities to abandon their black players in pursuit of athletic success and financial rewards.” ( Martin, 7).

I cannot say whether I like or dislike this passage, but it reveals something we’ve all known and understood for a while. The interests of the white majority never lied in the good of humanity, rather the financial and societal gain of their endeavors. This chapter also delves into the changes made after the 40’s in order to include black men in college bowl games, and it is clear that the changes were made out of embarrassment and not empathy. That is why to this day, there are still issues when black folk succeed in institutions created for and by white people. These attitudes are still present today, despite all the (minimally acceptable) improvement for black communities.

Furthermore, in chapter 11, Jason Peterson examined the relationship between sports and politics during the 1968 Olympics. Through this entire book, we’ve come to learn that everything in this world is interconnected, especially socially. Everything we do leaves a ripple, whether it be small or large. Tommie Smith and John Carlos made waves with their activism, and while some may think that politics or social opinions have no place in sports. “Sportswriters seemed to believe the U.S. sprinters had violated the sanctity of sports by inserting their own politics. These reactions point to an unwritten rule or norm in sports that its participants leave their politics and social activism at the arena or stadium gate.” (Peterson, 4). I invite those people to reconsider. If we can’t all play an equal field, none can play, and then what’s the point. None of our actions or choices exist in a void; someone will always be affected, whether it be a whole country or one single person.

Lamb, Chris. From Jack Johnson to Lebron JAMES: Sports, Media, and the Color Line. University of Nebraska Press, 2016.

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Video Discussion #1: The Real Importance of Sports

On first impressions, I didn't completely buy into what Sean Adams was saying. Sports never seemed like a big deal to me as I didn't grow up with them and wasn't raised by them. But now I see that sports teach people very, VERY important life lessons, and if anything, people who were raised on sports matured faster than someone who did not. It was a very motivating TED Talk, even though I couldn't exactly relate to him, I related to his message and it was a powerful one.

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Reaction: From Jack Johnson to LeBron James, Chapter 3 & 4

As I was reading Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, a recurring message came through on the subject of black athletes. It is the white sentiment that they will always be lesser than, and any claim to be ‘the best’ even if they actually are the best, will be met with contempt and at worst, violence. No black athlete can be vain, or boastful, or even proud of their accomplishments without being labeled as ‘out of his place’. “For his exemplary behavior and victories over Carnera and thirteen other heavyweights that year, Louis became Ring Magazine’s “Boxer of the Year” and the Associated Press’s “Athlete of the Year”; even rank- and- file white boxing fans and southern white journalists considered [him]… “well- behaved” [and] … “the savior of a dying sport.”” (Capeci, Wilkerson, 90). And there are several callbacks to Jack Johnson and his perceived vain ways of life, spending money and sleeping with white women, as a juxtaposition to Joe Louis. Moreover, it was incredible how paradoxical the contemporary race relations were in terms of the ongoing Nazi presence in Europe, and how whites wanted to remain united against racism but not against black people, of course.

“Louis’s triumph also appealed to white society’s patriotism and need, outside of the South, to appear racially moral in the face of its Nazi- like values. As an integrative force, he seemed capable of bringing the races together along commonly held ideals and against common enemies without challenging basic conditions of black life.” (Capeci, Wilkerson, 91).

This section of the passage in particular left me flabbergasted to the point I had to include it. Louis was considered passive, but I believe this was detrimental. His and his team’s distaste for the vanity exuded by Jack Johnson led them to pain Louis as morally neutral, but progressively inert. Whites used him to excuse their hate for Nazi ideology while still upholding their racist attitudes towards black folk. This in itself is ridiculous and exemplifies the mental gymnastics white people had to go through to condemn anti-Semitism but stop at the racism simply because it was the ‘norm’.

Works Cited

Lamb, Chris. From Jack Johnson to Lebron JAMES: Sports, Media, and the Color Line. University of Nebraska Press, 2016.

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Reaction: From Jack Johnson to LeBron James: Sports, Media, and the Color Line

On first impressions, this literary piece would not hold back, and will truly express the prejudices of white audiences and competitors throughout the years, along with their overtly violent rejection of black men being on the same playing ground as them. In terms of language, it is easy to read, especially the introduction, although it was jarring to read the racist reactions to Jack Johnson at the beginning of his career, but this is the reality we have to face.

The writing was formal enough to pass off information as truth without need to fact-check yet informal that any one person could easily access the language. I do appreciate that both Hutchinson and Lamb relayed the information chronologically as it happened rather thank skipping back and forth through history. I feel this will be an interesting read, especially for someone who is not well-versed in the history of sports in America

On personal reactions, I really enjoyed how both of these authors were so passionate in their subject, and though they kept their writing professional, there is a seething anger beneath their words, which is completely warranted. However, in Hutchinson’s piece, there were some parts that were hard to grasp, such as “…9 This theory- informed interpretive framework challenges prevailing historical narratives about the Johnson situation, particularly personality oriented portrayals that, by their nature, ignore some significant events and conflate others.” (Hutchinson, 23). To a layperson, this sentence and those surrounding it, are difficult to fully understand. My only issue with Hutchinson was that his writing was less accessible than that of Lamb, and there are very few sections in his piece where I am completely confident in his meaning.

Works Cited:

Lamb, Chris. From Jack Johnson to Lebron James : Sports, Media, and the Color Line . University of Nebraska Press, 2016.

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This Battle Is Won, Yet The War Continues

In this article, written by Marty O’Brien and published by the Daily Press, we dive into the situation at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. In order to comply with Title IX more properly and to avoid the year-long lawsuit, W&M has reinstated several female teams that were earlier defunded at the end of the 2020- 2021 academic year due to budget cuts. The college is also surveying the student body on their interest on more women’s sports, in order to bring forth an “…effective accommodation of interests and abilities.” (O’Brien).

The article itself is brief and informative, and the author stays objective on the subject. He begins by describing the matter at hand, that being the survey, while giving background on why the survey is necessary. He also details the shortcomings of the college when it comes to abiding by Title IX to show the dire lack of female representation and how women’s sports at W&M have suffered for the sake of reducing budget deficits. It is also useful how, at the end of the article, he lists the actions that the college will take to further improve equity. Listing instead of keeping the information in paragraph format may seem unprofessional but I feel it keeps it direct and to the point for the audience.

On the topic of the author, the Daily Press site allows you to read a short biography and read through his previous pieces. Marty O’Brien has been a reporter for 21 years, mainly focusing on sports and general current events of his city. I personally enjoyed reading the article. As aforementioned, O’Brien stays objective and simply states the facts of the situation. The article also serves to show that even though we are in the 21st century and many people believe that the fight for equality is over, these smaller events prove that this is far from the truth, and that the battle is not won yet.

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