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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).

A word I saw in the padlet was colourblindness. This is when people believe that race should not/is not seen or taken into account in society. While this may seem like a good thing, it actually ignores systemic issues. When colour is ignored, the obstacles that people of colour face are ignored too. This could be especially damaging in sports where stereotypes and systemic racism are something people of colour commonly face.

 

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.

Joel Bervell’s question highlights the racial bias that assumes Black athletic excellence is innate rather than individual. For example, when Usain Bolt dominated in sprinting everyone contributed this to his genetics rather than his training. Michael Phelps success in swimming was contributed to his rigorous training. rather than his genetics.  This reflects systemic stereotypes that see black bodies as naturally athletic while assuming white athletes success is from a regimine.

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 several strategies for resisting misogynoir. One of the strategies they talked about was self-representation. This is referring to athletes controlling their own social medias.  When athletes do this they can be in control of their own narratives, and speak openly about injustices that they face and/or care about.

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 think it is important for athletes to use their platform for social change. Similarly to pop stars, actors, and influencers, athletes are looked up to all over the world. The influence they have on people, especially young people, is strong. This can be seen in the most recently election in the United States. Plenty of people in the public eye endorsed either side, influencing many young people to vote. The last two elections had the highest voter turnout since 1968. While this obviously can’t all be contributed to the influence of famous people, I believe that it has a large impact. Athletes, and other people in the public eye, sharing ideas for social change can however be dangerous. While everyone deserves the opportunity to voice opinion and beliefs, if they are harmful to others would it be better for it to be kept to themselves?

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.)

 

 

 

C) Corporate social justice 

Exercise 6: Padlet Poll

Read this story by Ramsey Khabbaz contrasting the NFL stance on athlete activism with that of the NBA, especially in regards to BLM. Do sports leagues hold when it comes to BLM? Please respond to the padlet poll and record a brief rationale for your answer there in the space below. Remember to respond collegially to a classmate’s point (you may need to circle back at a later time if you are one of the first to post).
 

 

 

Section Three: Taking a shot

Module Assignment (submit as part of notebook and separately through Blackboard mini assignment #1 portal)

The Netflix series Colin in Black and White does a good job of showing the significance and deeper meaning in sport. As we learned in the module, sports can be a way for communities to connect and express themselves, but they also have a major symbolic significance (Sugden and Tomlinson, 1994). Colin Kaepernick’s story proves that point. His journey from quarterback to social justice activist highlights how sports aren’t just about performance.

One of the biggest ways Colin exemplifies his commitment to activism is when he kneels during the national anthem. While this move was silent, it was powerful. This action was done out of protest for police brutality and social injustices against people of colour (Cooky and Anunovic, 2020). It brings up other figures like Muhamamd Ali and Tommie Smith, showing how athletes have always had to fight for their right to speak up.

The show also calls out the double standard in treatment of black and white athletes. Colin, who was once a rising NFL star, was blacklisted from the league after he knelt during the national anthem. Meanwhile, white athletes who engage in activism often face fewer consequences. This can be seen most recently in the NFL with Nick Bosa wearing a Make America Great Again hat, and not receiving any repercussions. Colin’s struggle to be heard extends into his personal life, with his white adoptive parents not fully understanding the challenges that he faces.

Colin in Black and White can be used as a great teaching tool, to allow people to see racial and social injustice through the eyes of someone they admire. Sports aren’t just about winning and losing. They’re a reflection of society, and they give athletes a platform to push for change. Colin’s story forces us to think about who gets to speak, who gets silenced, and why sports will always be political.

 

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This work (Gender, Sport, and Social Justice by Kelly McGuire) is free of known copyright restrictions.

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