Free to Stand: Limits of Meritocracy in Sports
Submission Type
Event
Faculty Advisor
Joanne Diaz
Expected Graduation Date
2018
Location
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
Start Date
4-21-2018 9:00 AM
End Date
4-21-2018 10:00 AM
Disciplines
Education
Abstract
The general populace of America views sports as a symbol of meritocracy, however when athletes of color attempt to bring this supposed level of equality to minority communities by performing non-violent and non-disruptive protests before taking the field, they are met with disdain from the general populace. By providing a close reading of numerous popular American sport movies, including Miracle and Hoosiers, I will demonstrate the origins of this socially constructed concept of an athlete and how it disproportionately hampers a minority athlete’s ability to perform actions of social justice and reinforces institutionalized racism. Focusing on the recent developments surrounding Colin Kaepernick, I will bring attention to the president’s support of this harmful thought process, exposing the crumbling barrier between private industry and governmental desire to quell conversations surrounding racial disparity in America. This in turn reinforces white supremacy.
Free to Stand: Limits of Meritocracy in Sports
Center for Natural Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University
The general populace of America views sports as a symbol of meritocracy, however when athletes of color attempt to bring this supposed level of equality to minority communities by performing non-violent and non-disruptive protests before taking the field, they are met with disdain from the general populace. By providing a close reading of numerous popular American sport movies, including Miracle and Hoosiers, I will demonstrate the origins of this socially constructed concept of an athlete and how it disproportionately hampers a minority athlete’s ability to perform actions of social justice and reinforces institutionalized racism. Focusing on the recent developments surrounding Colin Kaepernick, I will bring attention to the president’s support of this harmful thought process, exposing the crumbling barrier between private industry and governmental desire to quell conversations surrounding racial disparity in America. This in turn reinforces white supremacy.