The Transformative Power of Sports in the American Civil Rights Movement

In the book titled Race, Sports, and the American Dream, it discussed how sports helped change the place of African-American in society. “Sports was well segregated deep into the 20th century” (Smith 9). How college football looked in America in the 1950s was exactly how American society looked in the 1950s, segregated and racist. African-American athletes in college football helped fight and negate stereotypes because it showed that they are equally as good

Sports influence the ongoing civil rights movement by changing the ideals of sports fans across the nation. During the period of racial segregation of America in the 1930’s, the nation refused to accept anything out of the ordinary such as color and sexual orientation. All sports figures in the 1930’s were white as no matter the type of discrimination, in order to have true equality in place where the best and most talented play, no player can be judged based on their sexual orientation or race, only on their ability to preform. Despite the many examples of discrimination still present today, major sports has shown a significant amount of progress since the

In his article “The Shame of College Sports,” Taylor Branch (2011) describes how universities are focused on advancing and receiving money from major athletics and having star athletes, but how the universities are not caring for the “student athlete.” The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has made college sports into an unmerited business. However, as years progress more athletes are getting smart and are taking the NCAA to court. The more students that challenges the rules by the NCAA and take them to court, the secrets and undermining values of the NCAA come out and the closer the NCAA comes to an end.

Sports are something that everyone in the world, regardless of age, sex, or nationality, can enjoy. Whether it's a child playing in his first t-ball game or a professional athlete swimming in the Olympics and everyone in between, sports can connect almost everyone. Fan support and overall devotion for athletic competition has raised professional athletes to superstars and national icons; Super Bowl Sunday is a national holiday to some, and sports are one of the largest moneymakers in the economy.

What would you feel like to be the first modern African American to play major league baseball? Well, you don’t because this courageous man named John(Jackie) Robinson took over that role.

Collegiate athletics is a multibillion dollar business. Competition across basketball, football, and other popular sports generate just as much money as they do excitement and entertainment to sports fans and the casual viewer. The driving force behind this behemoth are the athletes that don the uniform of the competing universities. These athletes, the most of which are black, dedicated time synonymous to working a full time job on top of being student in order to serve this money machine. What is so damning about this system then? The truth is that the student-athletes do not see a penny of the millions they earn for their schools. On top of that, they are stretched beyond reasonable means in order to serve their athletic program. In return, they are compensated with scholarships to attend the college. However, what might seem like a coveted opportunity is not what it seems.

The history of sports goes back since ancient times. It has been a useful way for people to explore nature and their environment. Sports include different activities and games such as football, soccer, basketball, and etc. to express their skills and talents. Also, sports are a way to relax and have fun; but are sports all our African Americans rely on? The dream to become future sports stars. The reason why Gates begins his essay with an anecdote is to show and compare how many african-american athletes were at work today and how little the chances of African-Americans becoming athletes are compared to being a lawyer, dentist, or even a doctor. African-Americans assume that they are born athletes and it’s because the school system doesn’t

In our society sports are a very important social construction. As sports continue to grow, they are becoming more integrated into the major spheres of social life. Sports have become an entity, due to the fact that they not only create entertainment and jobs; sports have become a huge platform for various causes. Sports are extremely important to our society and have very powerful influences. Though experiences vary from person to person, most people have some sort of experience with sports. I personally have experienced sports more from the spectator and participant stance, and have been impacted from each perspective a great deal. Compared to sophomore safety, Jamal Adams my sports experience has been very different from impact and perspective.

Sports are extremely popular around the world and only get more popular as time goes on. Sports is on television (TV), in the news, in the newspaper, and online. It only makes sense that this is the case. A sporting event is the ultimate drama. The variability of a game is what gets people so into it. Sports can tell a story, and teach great life lessons as well as inspire people. If sports are that important to the people around the world who watch it, just think about how important sports are to the ones who actually play it and coach it. It is their passion, their persona, their life. With the media’s harsh expectations of teams today, unless a team wins a championship, they are deemed unsuccessful. Since expectations are so high,

In the majors, Robinson encountered racism from his own teammates . However of the Game

Most athletes in their lives have had some kind of emotional response after winning a game. Nothing can be compared to the joint excitement that an athlete feels in this specific moment. That feeling of being on top of the world is incomparable. During these moments, nothing matters to the athlete but getting the win. There is no thought of money or revenue running through one’s mind. This proves the purity of playing collegiate sports. “About 2% of high school athletes are awarded athletic scholarships to compete in college”

“The 1960’s were a tough time for African – Americans. They were denied the most basic of human rights. This came apparent to one young black boy, Cassius Marcellus Clay. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA in a small bungalow, Clay had firsthand experience of racial prejudice and discrimination. During his adolescents years Clay had his bike stolen and reportedly told a police officer he would thump the thief. The police officer coincidentally trained young boxers at the local gym and Cassius was excited at the prospect. His boxing career quickly got underway and began competing in competitions. After developing amazing speed and reflexes he won his first fight and announced he would be the “greatest of all time”. Little did he know that he

The golden age of boxing in the mid 20th century started off with boxing moguls like Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and Floyd Patterson. However, none would ever be bigger than “The People’s Champ”, Muhammad Ali. Born on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, later he would change his name to Muhammad Ali, would become one of the greatest boxers known to the world. After then exploring the art of boxing and the teachings of Islam, with his friend Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali encountered a large battle with the U.S. Draft Board which led to the Ali becoming influential to African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement due to his unwavering beliefs in nonviolence, in expressing one’s beliefs, and opposition against the

There has been amplified debate on the treatment, education, training of the college athlete. To avoid exploitation of athletes, “The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), formed in 1905, set bylaws requiring college student-athletes to be amateurs in order to be eligible for intercollegiate athletics competition” (Schneider n.p.). Intercollegiate athletics have dramatically changed over the last several decades. Currently, intercollegiate athletics generate tremendous amounts of revenue, remarkably in football and basketball. College sports in America is a

Cassius clay, one of the world’s most distinguished boxers, was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 7, 1942. Clays work ethic was apparent even in the early years of his life. As a child, he raced the school bus to school each morning. His friends would wave to him as the lead fluctuated based on the school bus’ stops. This work ethic extended to the classroom. Because of a learning disability, Clay had to work extra hard in school to not fall behind. Clay grew up with racial segregation all around him. These injustices sparked a passion in him to change the way people viewed African Americans: “I wanted to show that color didn’t matter”(Muhammad Ali: An American Legend). Clay’s boxing career began because of an incident when he was 12 years old. He and a friend rode their bikes to the Columbia Auditorium for The Louisville Home Show. When they were ready to go home, Clay discovered that his bike was stolen. Filled with rage, Clay wanted to retaliate. He found police officer, Joe Martin, who told him, “You better learn how to fight before you start challenging people that you’re gonna whoop” (Hauser 18). Martin became his coach, and although Clay never found the thief, he found a love of boxing that would continue throughout his life. Between the ages of 12 and 18, Clay