3
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).
| Intersectionality in sports means recognizing how different aspects of identity, like race, gender, sexuality, class, and disability, interact to shape an athletes experiences. It’t not just about being a women in sports or being Black in sports, but how those identities overlap, creating unique challenges and advantages. For example, a queer female athlete of colour may face discrimination that a straight white female athlete doesn’t. Intersectionality helps us understand why some opportunities and why diversity and inclusion efforts in sports need to consider multiple factors, not just one dimension of identity. |
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.
| This happens a lot in sports, especially when people assume all Black athletes are naturally faster or stronger, like saying every Black Basketball player must be the next LeBron. But we don’t assume every white quarterback is Tom Brady. It’s rooted in racial stereotypes, ignoring hard work and individuality. As someone who isn’t Black, I have to recognize my own biases and be intentional about not making those generalizations. |
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 of resistance that Naomi Osaka and others use to push back against misogynoir. One major strategy is self-representation through social media. Unlike mainstream media, which often erases or simplifies her identity, Osaka uses platforms like Twitter and Instagram to highlight her Haitian heritage and her identity as Black, Asian, and mixed. She actively challenges the dominant narrative that frames her as only Japanese by posting about her Haitian roots, celebrating her culture, and even jokingly responding to racist comments, like when she clapped back at comedians who mocked her skin color. Another key strategy is counter-narratives. Instead of letting media define her, Osaka creates her own narrative by embracing multiple identities and refusing to conform to racial and gendered stereotypes. When the media tried to position her as the quiet, obedient Asian player against Serena Williams, she disrupted that narrative by aligning herself with Williams and acknowledging the struggles they both face as Black female athletes. Additionally, Osaka uses fashion and sponsorships as a form of resistance. She collaborated with Pharrell Williams to design bold outfits, rejecting the traditional, white-dominated aesthetic of women’s tennis. She also used her platform to highlight Haitian pride, such as by celebrating with her father’s family and visiting Haiti after her US Open win. Overall, through self-representation, counter-narratives, and symbolic acts of resistance, Osaka challenges misogynoir and reclaims control over her own identity. |
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.
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.)
| The authors call for disrupting the boundaries of what is considered “sports media” by expanding it beyond mainstream outlets like ESPN. They argue that including alternative media and perspectives will challenge the dominant focus on neoliberal feminism, like equal pay, and instead bring attention to more intersectional issues, like the WNBA’s activism around racial justice. By doing so, they hope to highlight the diversity of feminist activism in sports and push back against the way mainstream sports journalism often sidelines the activism of sportswomen and erases intersectionality. |
C) Corporate social justice
Exercise 6: Padlet Poll
| I think sports leagues should absolutely stand with movements like Black Lives Matter, and the NBA’s response to athlete activism really shows the potential for leagues to be leaders in social justice. From the moment the BLM movement gained traction, the NBA took a clear stance in support, and its players were able to take action without fear of reprisal. The NBA’s approach was hands-on: courts were decorated with BLM decals, players wore “Say Their Names” jerseys, and they held postgame interviews addressing social justice issues. The NBA even went so far as to allow players to boycott games and later use arenas as Election Day polling places after the shooting of Jacob Blake. This demonstrated that the NBA not only supported their players’ activism but actively facilitated their engagement with the movement. The NBA’s response to Black Lives Matter shows how sports leagues can lead by example in supporting social justice. By allowing players to actively participate in protests and amplify their voices through various forms of activism, the NBA demonstrated a genuine commitment to the cause. Their hands-on approach, through BLM decals, jerseys, and postgame discussions, created a platform for change and encouraged real action. This support empowered athletes and reinforced the idea that sports can be a powerful tool for social progress, setting the NBA apart as a model for other leagues to follow. |
Section Three: Taking a shot
Module Assignment (submit as part of notebook and separately through Blackboard mini assignment #1 portal)
In One Night in Miami, Muhammad Ali’s strategy for speaking out is a powerful example of how racialized athlete activists use their platforms to challenge societal norms. In the film, Ali is portrayed as someone who rejects the idea of simply entertaining and instead embraces his role as a political figure, using his fame to speak on issues of racial injustice. For instance, Ali’s refusal to be drafted into the Vietnam War was not only an act of defiance against the government but also a clear stand against the oppression of Black people both in the U.S. and abroad. His bold statement that he has “no quarrel with the Vietcong” speaks to his conviction that fighting for a country that oppresses Black people at home is unjust. This mirrors the sentiment in the article where the NFL initially resisted players using their platform for activism, especially when it came to addressing racial justice, instead focusing on profits and public approval.
The article also discusses how the NBA has taken a more supportive approach to athlete activism, particularly when it comes to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. This was seen in their full embrace of player protests and activism during the 2020 season, where the league allowed players to use courts decorated with BLM messages and to speak out about racial inequality. This mirrors Ali’s actions in One Night in Miami, as he too uses his platform to confront the racial injustice of the time. The NBA’s proactive stance contrasts with the NFL’s hesitation, as discussed in the article, which is similar to the way Ali faced resistance from certain factions in society for his political stance. His determination to speak out despite the consequences reflects a larger commentary on the pressure faced by athletes, particularly Black athletes, who often have to navigate expectations of silence or entertainment.
Race plays a significant role in how Ali is represented in the film. His activism is tied directly to his experiences as a Black man in America, challenging the societal and political systems that oppress him and others like him. This is also reflected in the article’s comparison of the NBA and NFL’s responses to BLM. The NBA, with its more diverse fan base and player-centric culture, embraced activism in a way that the NFL, with its concerns about alienating its more conservative fan base, could not. This difference in response highlights how race and identity influence the way sports leagues handle athlete activism, and how athletes like Ali and those in the NBA use their voices to shape how we understand the role of sports in society.
