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Section One: The Fundamentals
A) Keywords
Exercise 1:
Briefly (in 100 words or less) define one of the keywords in the padlet (including one that you. may have added yourself).
| Athlete activism can be defined as the platform that an individual can use the privilege of being an athlete to promote various means of change within a society sometimes relating to athletics but also relating to other areas of oppression outside of athletics like when Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to protest against systemic racism and police brutality.
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B) Representing Race
Exercise 2: Notebook Prompt
In about 50-70 words, consider Joel Bervell’s question: why do we feel the need to extrapolate the athleticism of one Black athlete to all Black people when we do not do the same for white athletes?
Try to think of examples when this happens, making sure to reflect on your own positionality.
| I think the answer is racism within sports. This is the way it is hidden and intertwined in a way that can go unanswered by those in power. We can see this across all sports when any person of colour begins to win. Media does not look at what might be beneficial to a white person’s win besides their hard work that paid off for them. When the media looks at people of colour who win it is always put up to their genetics and worse for women they begin to question their sex and gender.
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C) Gender, Race & Sport
Exercise 3: Notebook Prompt
What are some strategies for resistance that Rajack and Joseph identify in their article as a means of pushing back against and resisting misogynoir?
| Rajack and Joseph identify using ICT’s such as social media, blogs, and private media websites as a means of resistance and push back towards misogynoir often perpetrated on mainstream media. The use of these media platforms allows for less attention on mainstream media and news platforms that often project misogynoir across their outlets. Osaka’s use of social media and responses to hate online is an act of resistance as she produces an image of herself to contrast the misrepresentation in mainstream media regarding her Haitian heritage. She pushes back on the attempt of mainstream media to erase her Black identity through her comments, displays of flags of her home country and even through where she chooses to eat. White allies can do more by joining the communities online to support Black women across the globe.
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Section Two: Making Connections
A) Athlete Activism
Exercise 3: Padlet Prompt
Do athletes have a responsibility to use their platform for social change? Why or why not? Please remember to record your response in both the padlet below and in your Notebook.
I believe that the responsibility of social change should not be put on Black athletes. That is the real question here, if Black athletes should use their power and public popularity to speak out against social and political injustice such a racism etc. I believe that it is the responsibility of their white allies who have much less to risk when speaking about political issues to not only use the platform but also to support Black athletes who become activists with their public platforms. Colin Kaepernick, a hero of his time, faced huge backlash for taking a knee. His team reprimanded him stating that his actions were distracting to the league and the fans enjoyment. This led to the end of his career when he had to choose to not sign another contract with a team that did not support him being a Black activist. All public figures have a responsibility to speak out against violence, racism, social injustice and the like, however it needs to be noted that the impacts on White activists do not compare to the impacts on Black activists. White allies must support and speak out to provide a safe platform for their Black fellows before we can expect them to throw away their careers to fight against harms caused on them, that they continue to endure today.
B) Athlete Activism & Feminism
Exercise 4: Complete the activities
Exercise 5: Notebook Prompt
What do the authors of the article call for as a way of challenging how mainstream sports journalism privileges neoliberal feminist concerns? (100 words max.)
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Intersectionality is called for. Neoliberal feminist concerns focus on bringing equality to women versus men, but it fails to compare the disadvantages of Black women compared to their White counterparts. It also seeks to mesh women into established systems that are broken when what is really needed is new systems to promote equality for everyone.
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C) Corporate social justice
Exercise 6: Padlet Poll
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I think that there is no way for an entire league to bear the responsibility of taking a political stance, when its made up of hundreds of individuals with different opinions. I think that every person in a powerful position, even athletes have a responsibility to speak out against social injustice. The problem is that many athletes are just as much part of the problem as the rest of the 1%. The system is broken and putting the responsibility to speak out against on a individual is obviously problematic for them and their career, but an entire league should be supportive of all social movements that promote inclusively. Would they lose players and fans? Absolutely. I have to admit I do not know the answer to this one. While I think all people with powerful platforms have a responsibility, in reality they are a part of the problem to some degree. My response to another post: I agree with this opinion. All people of power have a responsibility to use that power for good. Athletes have a large following, their power is in being heard and seen. They are individuals who play on a team made of many individuals. There is no way each member of a single team will all agree on the same social issues. This has caused for divide in the past as I noted in my last Padlet with Colin Kaepernick’s experience. His team did not support him in his advocacy. I think at the end of the day sports players want to be famous and make a lot of money. Eat the rich. 😉
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Section Three: Taking a shot
Module Assignment (submit as part of notebook and separately through Blackboard mini assignment #1 portal)
Unfortunately I don’t really watch TV or Movies and my disability affects my memory capacity when it comes to books I have read. I do read a lot. I am going to use to Superbowl Halftime Show as my example. The strategy used here is dance by a powerful black woman who is often under scrutiny as we have seen in our readings. Serena Williams received much commentary on her performance. Many stating it promoted gang violence while others stated that backlash was simply racist as the crip walk is a popular hip hop dance originating from LA where she and the other performer were from.
Race and gender impact the view of the crip walk, and Serena Williams as being viewed as an “Angry Black Women” as noted in the Rajack and Joseph article.
This impacts sport as many claim to not want to watch the Superbowl anymore due to the performance and viewing numbers went down after the halftime show ended. I think race and gender inform this representation as Sarena responded with statements of feeling empowered doing the dance with the famous singer, while it may perpetuate stereotypes without the support of the ICT’s. Mainstream media ripped it apart, but when looking to social media and other alternative streams it was praised as heroic and iconic.
