When defining the significance of sport for African
Americans, it would be ignorant to assume that athletics is the only escape
from a lower socio-economic status. With that said, racial inequality does
still play an extremely prominent role in the athletic and educational systems
in the United States. This was seen in the documentary Hoop Dreams, which portrayed two African Americans struggling
through the process of pursuing a better life through sport.
This struggle can be seen in many sports movies, but one
that stood out particularly to me was Jerry
McGuire. Although, the plot was mainly focused on a mid to upper class
sports agent (Tom Cruise), the movie also embodied a typical situation for a
professional athlete. This movie displayed how athletes, who completely invest
their future in sport, are usually faced with the possibility of injury. With
that said, this character particularly has his quality of life tied to his
success in football. This position seems to be common for athletes in all
high-profile sporting franchises, as seen in the ESPN 30 for 30 on Retired
Athletes. These competitors are defined by a sport, and once their sporting
careers expire, so does the contract, endorsements and socio-economic status.
I don’t believe that African American’s success in sport has
damaged the race’s image. One critique of how sport could damage the perception
and success of the race is that African American’s are encouraged to invest
most of their time in sport. This hypothesis could be seen as valid, but our
lectures and assigned readings suggest that discipline in sport typically
carries into education as well. I believe that sport, which is typically tied
with a scholarly institution, will encourage athletes to pursue an alternative
plan if their sporting dreams are not fulfilled. Furthermore, with the history
of athletes becoming victims of their own income and financial choices, future
sportspersons will be aware of these traps and invest more time into an
alternative plan.
