The concept of race has shaped the society. People refuse to believe that race is not a biological classification, and it has nothing to do with genetics. Consequently, the concept of race has been elevated such that it shapes societal experiences. The effects of racism have been studied widely; racism affects all aspects of the society including sports. Minority groups, including Africans, Latino, Asian descendants have found the path to worldwide social acceptance more difficult. Certain races struggle with accessing equal social, political and educational opportunities as well as representation. The purpose of this term paper is to explore racial injustice in sports using the life of Jesse Owens. Owens was a track and field athlete who won four gold medals in Berlin Olympics in 1936, and despite his athletic prowess, he faced racial injustice locally and internationally that made him almost give up on sports.
History of Jesse Owens
Owens was born in Alabama in 1913 to Henry and Emma Alexander Owens. He was named James Cleveland, but when the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, the school teacher gave him the name Owens. Owens’ father was a sharecropper, and his grandfather was a slave. The family was impoverished, and this inspired the spirit of hard work in Owens who wanted to change the fate for his family (jesseowens.com).
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Owens’ athletic career began showing at an early age. In 1928, Owens set Junior High School records for high jump and long jump (Milford, 2012). He also won all major track events that he participated in high school. Owens joined Ohio State University even though the school did not have a track scholarship (Edmondson, 2007). He worked as a night elevator operator, a waiter, pumped gas and worked in the library to pay his school fees and support his young wife, Ruth.
Owens took part in the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor in 1935, where he set three world records and tied on the fourth in the grueling track and field events (McRae, 2012). The success of the Big Ten Championships qualified for the 1936 Olympics, which was to be held in Nazi Germany. Hitler wanted to use the Olympics to show the superiority of “Aryan” race, but Owens challenged Hitler’s plans by winning four gold medals. Owens’ remarkable achievement remained unequaled until 1984. Many Olympic athletes have won more medals, but they cannot achieve what Owens achieved. Owens became the best African American athlete during a time of deep-rooted segregation. Owens also faced racism on an international level when he competed in Olympics in Nazi Germany. He used the Olympics to affirm individual excellence and discredit Hitler’s master race theory.
Racial Injustice in Sports
Different rules guide sports as it is often seen as the place where real-world problems cease to exist. Modern sports is believed to be a model for race relations, where fans support their teams regardless of whether the players are black or white. What matters in sports is one’s ability to run faster or to score more goals. Nonetheless, a closer look at sports reveals that the idyllic picture is misleading. Contemporary athletes still face some subtle form of racism on a daily basis (Hruby, 2016). African American athletes often find themselves being subjected to stereotypes and systemic racism that white athletes do not meet.
Participation of black athletes in Olympics in the early 20th century was minimal. According to Nash (2012), a handful of black Americans competed in Olympics since George Poague won two silver medals in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis. Poague’s medals did not stir much attention as the competition was in the US. Since 1904, a handful of black athletes competed in track and field events without overwhelming success. Nash (2012) states that sickness, injuries, and other misfortunes, often related to racism prevented black athletes from shining. Owens overcame all the challenges; he came from a destitute family, and he was a sickly child. The family could not afford medical care because they were poor, and the family lost two young boys to starvation. Owens survived, and the family moved from Alabama to Cleveland in search of a better life. In high school, Owens prowess in track and field events started showing and dedicated himself towards achieving the impossible by focusing on his dreams.
Owens faced racial discrimination locally and internationally. Owens was torn on whether to take part in Olympics in Nazi Germany or not. The Olympic boycott movement did not feel that Owens would be making a stand against injustice by participating in the Olympics under Hitler’s oppressive regime (Milford, 2018). The American team desperately needed a win to show Nazi Germany that Hitler’s idea of Aryan ÜbermenVchen (superhuman) was wrong. America ended up depending on Owens to make a point, and yet back at home Owens was not considered equal to whites.
Who was affected by Racial Injustice?
Owens faced racism in the locker rooms after practice, and every day because of his skin color. Even after winning the four Olympic gold medals, life was not easy for Owens because of the deep-rooted racism in America. Hall et al. (2017) state that many talented black athletes faced extreme racism in the 1930s such that some of them gave up. Owens did not give up because he was resilient and exceptionally gifted, and he wanted to make a career out of his talent.
Many young talented African American athletes did not have the opportunity to participate in sports because they did not get the support Owens got from his coach. Some coaches were racist, and they refused to train or add black athletes to their teams. In 1936, a large number of black athletes participated in Olympics with a total of 18 athletes going to Olympics in Berlin. The number of black athletes in the 1936 Olympics was three times the number of athletes in 1932. According to Hall et al. (2017), many blacks had migrated to northern cities by mid-1930s, and north colleges accepted black students and athletes, unlike southern colleges. Other minority groups in the US such as Latinos and Asians also faced racism, and athletes from the two groups were also not given opportunities to develop their talent (Duarte, 2014).
Why is it Important to remedy the injustice?
Remedying racial injustice in sports is necessary for various reasons. Correcting the injustice would give equal opportunities to athletes of all races (Hill, 2016). Sporting opportunities for blacks were limited, but educational opportunities were even more limited. Black Olympians came from Northern schools serving white students, but they only gave sports scholarships to black students to improve their chances of winning. In the south, blacks lacked both educational and sporting opportunities. When Owens’ family moved from Alabama to Cleveland, Owens had a chance to attend school and take part in sports; thus by remedying the situation, all African Americans would have access to the opportunities Owens had. Sports has physical, social and emotional benefits, and individuals interested in sports should be free to participate.
Secondly, if Owens and other minority athletes had not participated in the Nazi Olympics, Hitler would have found the right venue to spread his extremist ideas of “Aryan” supremacy. Owns won four gold medals, and all the other African American athletes came back with a total of ten medals. Their victory was important; it was a sign that every race is equally talented and that Aryan superiority idea was not true (Edmondson, 2007). In the US, writers for papers such as the Philadelphia Tribune and Chicago Defender encouraged black athletes to participate in the Olympics. The participation of black athletes such as Owens would undermine racism and challenge “Aryan” supremacy. The participation of black athletes would also foster a new sense of black pride back home. Many talented young people dream of playing in the major leagues or competing in Olympics. Some athletes are not incredibly gifted or motivated to pursue a career in sports, but they still want to take part in high school and college competitions as they continue their education.
Owens achieved what most black men could not achieve in the 1930s. He endured extreme forms of racism to win four gold medals in 1936 Olympics, even when he knew he would be coming back to a segregated society where blacks were not viewed as equal. The president gave all the Olympic winners medals once they got home, but Owens was not awarded because he was black. After winning the Olympics, Owens came home and challenged racial discrimination through speeches and sports training for young black athletes who lacked opportunities. Racism in sports did not end after the likes of Owens showed the world what black athletes are capable of. Racism has persisted into the 21st century as there are cases where African American or black athletes have withstood mockery, jeers or bananas being thrown at them by racists (Hruby, 2016). In some situation, black athletes are denied positions even when they are qualified, and the opportunities are given to white players. It is necessary to fight racism in sports to ensure that the next generation of athletes has equal opportunities. The next generation of athletes should not have to endure racism almost a century later after Owens experienced inconceivable racial abuse to participate in the Olympics.
Proposing Action for Change
According to Smith (2014) sports shapes the social consciousness. Sports unite people from all walks of life, and it should be free of racism. When America was racially divided, athletes such as Owens, Jackie Robinson, and Kenny Washington came and challenged the stereotypes and beliefs that promoted a segregated society (Compall, 2015). Owens and Jackie Robinson excelled, even more than the white athletes in the teams, such that it no longer made sense to segregate blacks on the basis of being weak.
African Americans, minority athletes and all athletes have a responsibility to end racial injustice. Athletes are influential individuals capable of influencing the behavior of their fans. Owens influenced many blacks to follow their dreams and to never give into racism. Smith (2014) notes that athletes have a responsibility to fight injustice through teamwork and relationships. African American and white athletes should work together and engage with each other outside the field to show the society that individuals from different races are capable of working together and being friends (Hruby, 2016). When athletes work together instead of creating an ‘us versus them’ situation, they show the society that people of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds can be friends.
The second strategy for eliminating racism in sports is through inclusivity. Owens and other black athletes in the 1930s fought very hard to be a part of the Olympic team; and surprisingly, they still have to fight harder to prove themselves (Schwerger, 2014). All leagues should come up with rules to encourage inclusivity. When teams are made up of diverse players, it will be hard for the fans to hate on individual players because they are a part of the team they are supporting. Inclusivity should not be among players only, but it should extend to management. The lack of diversity among managers could be the reason why racism still exists in the locker rooms and behind the scenes. Diverse couches, managers, and league owners will bring a new perspective and challenge the subtle forms of racism that the current managers fail to acknowledge. The recent ‘take a knee’ movement in the NFL was controversial because the NFL management is predominantly white, and it did not understand what African American players were trying to achieve by kneeling during the national anthem.
Lastly, there is a need to create stringent policies and laws against racism. Individuals who are found guilty of racism should be punished to deter others from engaging in racist activities or talk. Managers, coaches, and players should be punished for being racist to show the league’s dedication to ending racism. Sports teams should encourage their fans to desist from racist behaviors and educate them on what makes up racism. Subtle forms of racism such as racial stereotypes still qualify as racism.
Implementation of the Proposal
The three strategies for reducing racism in sports will only make an impact if they are implemented well. There is a need to create an implementation framework to determine whether the strategies will successfully reduce racism or not. The first step is education and awareness. The sports world has to be educated on racism, its effects and how to minimize or end racism. There will be workshops and seminars where athletes get to learn everything about racism. When the athletes, coaches, and managers are educated; they will learn about their role in promoting racism and how their non-activity could be detrimental to their teammates from minority races. Through education, everyone realizes their own implicit bias and racial illiteracy, and they will be willing to take the next step because they are empowered.
The second step is meaningfully integrating diverse cultures into sports. According to Lapchick (2015), minority athletes are tired of operating under the rules and the culture of the majority group. Team leaders should incorporate other cultures into the team activities as a way of educating athletes about different cultures and celebrating other cultures. Team leaders can include small aspects of African American or Latino culture until the team learns to embrace all cultures (Murray, 2015).
Leaders will play a crucial role in the implementation of the strategies. The strategies will make a positive impact if managers support and implement them. In the movie Race, Owens succeeded because he had a coach who believed in him and understood the struggles of a black athlete in the 1930s (Gentry & Wagner, 2009). Leaders set the tone for the organizational culture, and when coaches implement strict measures against racism, the entire team is likely to avoid engaging in racial discrimination.
Potential Impact of Proposal on Racial Injustice
The proposal suggests ways of reducing racism in sports, and if the strategies are implemented well, incidences of racism in games will be reduced. Racism is ingrained in the society; hence, it will be difficult to get rid of it. Nonetheless, if everyone involved in sports works towards minimizing racism; the ugly racist incidents whereby players are made fun because of the color of their skin or physically assaulted will be reduced.
Aside from minimizing racial discrimination cases, the proposal will facilitate racial inequality in sports. Players, coaches, and managers from diverse races will have equal opportunity to participate in sports without feeling that they are denied opportunities that they qualify for. Young athletes will have equal opportunities to explore their talents; they will be treated equally, and they will be paid as per their contribution to the team. Athletes will only worry about being the best because they do not have to worry about any form of discrimination.
In conclusion, sports is one of the best tools for bringing people together. Millions watch NFL in the stadium or at their homes, and during the games, they put aside their differences to cheer their teams. Given the significance of sports, athletes from all backgrounds should be given equal opportunities to pursue their careers in sports. The history of Jesse Owens shows that African American athletes experience extreme forms of racism to prove themselves as capable sportsmen. Owens won four gold medals in 1936 Berlin Olympics to challenge segregation in American sports and Hitler’s Aryan supremacy. African American and minority athletes should not have to endure the same discrimination Owens endured almost a century ago.
References
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Duarte, M. (2014). The Injustice Of Major League Baseball: How The Sport Exploits Its Latino Players. Latin Times. Retrieved from https://www.latintimes.com/injustice-major-league-baseball-how-sport-exploits-its-latino-players-270470
Edmondson, J. (2007). Jesse Owens: A Biography. Greenwood Publishing Group.
Gentry, T., & Wagner, H. L. (2009). Jesse Owens: Champion Athlete. Infobase Publishing.
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Hill, D. (2016). Public Relations, Racial Injustice, and the 1958 North Carolina Kissing Case (Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
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Murray, D. (2015). Chapter 27. Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World | Section 4. Strategies and Activities for Reducing Racial Prejudice and Racism | Main Section | Community Tool Box. Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/reduce-prejudice-racism/main
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