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Subject: Does sports improve racial harmony
Posted by: Anton
- [29055137] Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 09:03
Well the title says it all guys. This is a very debatable topic and I would like to hear your opinions on weather or not sports improve racial harmony. It could be in the professional level or it could be kids just playing for a random team at an early age. Lets hear your opinions. |
| 1 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 30792616
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 10:29
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I think sports is, at worst, racially neutral, and at best bring together people who otherwise might never interact with other races. Sure, it helps racially harmony, mostly by not being about social engineering itself but about pure skill.
Except for Rush, of course.
pd
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| 2 | Pancho Villa
Sustainer
ID: 533817
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 10:30
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Sorry to nitpick, but it should read, "Does sport.." or "Do sports.."
My answer would be yes. Any interaction of differing cultures lends itself to a better understanding of those who traditionally would be isolated from each other.
I would suggest that the sport which does the most to promote international goodwill is tennis. Every professional tennis tournament features the most diverse contingent of competitors from all parts of the globe. These competitions are held almost weekly, as opposed to every 4 years like the Olympics or World Cup, so there is a constant interaction between competitors who are American, Russian, Morrocan, Thai, Australian, Israeli, Indian, Croatian, South African, Argentine, Korean, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Aetheist, black, white, brown, rich background, poor background, etc.
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| 3 | Stud For Hire
ID: 551127610
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 10:57
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you should pose this question to Rasheed Wallace
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| 4 | Anton
ID: 38001313
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 14:04
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Great feedback so far guys. Currently I have a debate on. Currently all the research on this has proved that sports does not improve racial harmony. However I would like to hear everyone's opinion on this one because it is such a debateable topic.
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| 5 | VP.
ID: 521062513
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 14:09
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I do not think sports improve racial harmony. If anything it
promotes stereotypes. Just to be brief, I'll use the example
of basketball. Right now basketball promotes stereotypes
like blacks are better than other races, everyone black can
jump, things like that.
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| 6 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 30792616
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 14:24
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I don't agree--blacks excel at basketball for a number of reasons, the most obvious is that many of them practice at it in an environment of hoops from an early age.
PV, I have to disagree. More international goodwill comes from soccer than anything else (despite English hooligans). Don't find many tennis courts in third-world countries (some, among the upper classes), but you can always find a soccer game.
pd
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| 7 | anton
ID: 60311314
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 15:36
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ok here are some points suggesting that sports promotes racial harmnony
you get to meet cultures, races, different ethnicity groups, etc that you would never have met before
through sporting events, you build comradity and respect for your fellow teammate or opponent
when playing sports, you dont look at the persons skin color or their backround, however you look at their ability to play the sport.
There are more but so far I'll leave you guys with that. Now hopefully we can get a couple of more posts and get a good heated discussion on all of these points.
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| 8 | Seattle Zen
Donor
ID: 55343019
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 15:53
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Currently all the research on this has proved that sports does not improve racial harmony.
What? What sort of "research" could prove something as undefinable as "racial harmony"? What is the definition of "racial harmony" used in these studies?
I would strenuously argue that sports foster racial and class harmony.
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| 9 | Mike D
Sustainer
ID: 41831612
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 15:55
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I think the question is a bit too general. For instance, are we talking about the improvement of racial harmony with regard to those involved in the sport, those watching the sport, the entire world in general, etc? All of those issues deserve differing rational and response, IMHO, as each is a bit unique due to being on different levels.
With regard to the first scenario, I believe those involved in sport do generally have an improved understanding of the other race(s). This comes for the most part from the additional exposure to the other race(s). As is often the case, ignorance of an issue is what leads to conflict. Ignorance is often due to lack of exposure. Practicing with other race(s), and of courses competing with and against other races, causes heightened exposure and awareness. When I played college basketball, half of my team was of a different race. Over the 4 years that I played, I learned so many things about the race(s) as well as the people themselves. Add to that the fact that each came from a different background, including many different states, and the learning was immense. The learning was not just one-way either. It was very much a mutual experience for both.
Think about all of the time on the court together. But also think about the off-court traveling. The social functions attended. The off-season pick up games, and even summer league games. A whole lot of time together. And a lot of time to develop relationships and learn about one another. Are things always postitive? Of course not. Forming those relationships can be tough, as in any case. But through exposure and opportunity, it certain does happen.
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| 10 | KnicksFan
ID: 460331121
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 16:05
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I don't know where I fall on this issue, but I do know that I'm sick of hearing announcers call white athletes "smart" and black athletes "natural athletes/talents".
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| 11 | Deadeyes
ID: 50104029
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 18:13
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Blacks can jump higher on average and that's a fact. I think they have an extra tendon or calf muscle. Let me check with my roommate, a harvard grad medical student. He'll know.
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| 12 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 30792616
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 18:56
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Good Kenan Malik column on race and sports. Pretty heavy stuff for this board, but well worth the long read.
Of course, in the end the physical characteristics which give one group an advantage over another are event-specific. In other words, what works for one sport probably does not work for another, which is why sports which use a variety of skills often enjoy the wider integration.
pd
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| 13 | anton
ID: 60311314
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 19:02
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To Seatlle Zen:
The cons that show that sports may not infact bring racial harmony
Competition: If you are a racisit individual and you are playing against a person of a different color that you discriminate towards, you will be more violent towards them. Also competition leads toward anger and outrage. You could play dirty or call foul language toward your opponent because of their color or religion. This also goes for spectators.
Sports bring out a lot of stereotypes/generalizations. Example: whites are hardworking smart athletes, while blacks are natural beasts.
Another example is when patrik ewing play for his college basketball team, the fans would throw bannannas on the gym.
The two books where I got a number of my information on was extremely in favor of racism NOT helping racial harmony. There were even more great points made which I might infact post a little later.
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| 14 | Perm Dude
Dude
ID: 30792616
Tue, Jan 13, 2004, 19:07
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Sure, but any interaction between a racist and the object of their hatred will bring out such behavior. The difference is that organized sports have rules to help contain such behavior within the sport.
Is the net, long-term benefit of racial interaction in sports positive or negative? In other words, take away sports and will racism decrease, increase, or stay the same? I know from my readings that many people, of all races, have their intial and majority of racial interaction through sports participation, and there is strong anecdotal evidence that such interaction develops the racial empathy that builds harmony, despite the short-term hatred many bigots have when first confronting their own irrational beliefs.
pd
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