The Role of Sport in the Black Community

Images of the black athlete: Intersection of race, sexuality, and sports

“…Though both are an integral part of American folk-lore in both the white and black communities, in recent years the myth of athletic superiority has been emphasized (Harris, 1998;Hoberman, 1997;Sailes, 1998b). By asserting that blacks are sexually and physically superior, the white community reinforces the stereotype of blacks as "brute" beasts who are intellectually and morally inferior to whites (Dyson, 1993;Edwards, 1977;Hoberman, 1997;Sailes, 1998b).…”

“…The attempt to exclude blacks from competing with whites in the realm of sports was also influenced by this fear of miscegenation or interracial contact. Many whites believed that if blacks were allowed to compete with whites it would imply that whites and blacks were equal, and more importantly, it was feared that blacks and whites in close contact in the sports arena would translate into close contact in society (Bissinger, 1991;Harris, 1998;Hawkins, 1998).…”

“…Messner's (1992) study of athletes found that one of the biggest conflicts between the white and black college athletes was the issue of interracial dating: the white athletes would call the white women who dated the black athletes derogatory names, and demand they engage in sexual acts with them also, implying that if they slept with a black man they would sleep with anyone (Messner, 1992, p.98). These actions were based on a collective white opposition to interracial intimacy that is best understood through an analysis of the myth of black sexual superiority, and the corresponding image of blacks as intellectually primitive and morally inferior (Boskin, 1988;Dyson, 1993;Harris, 1998;Hawkins, 1998;Hoberman, 1997).…”

“…Black athletes with requisite skills were sought if they were viewed as capable of bringing the team or sport big victories and attracting large crowds which generate profits (Coakley, 1986;Harris, 1998;Wiggins, 1997). Though the numbers of black athletes continued to rise, whites' beliefs about blacks and their desire for separation did not disappear.…”

“…A connection can be drawn between this opposition to interracial sex and intermarriage and the opposition that existed to the integration of sports. One of the main reasons cited for banning the integration of sports was that it would lead to the overall integration of society (Harris, 1998), and whites opposed the integration of society because, among other things, they feared it would lead to miscegenation (Hale, 1998;Harris, 1998;Marable, 1994;Takaki, 1993).…”