Out of bounds: racism and the black athlete

Abstract

This collection of essays highlights the controversies surrounding racism in sports and African American athletes, examining the racial discrimination that exists in one of the most public arenas in the 21st century. Despite increasing diversity in the American population, race and racial bias continue to be significant issues in the United States. Sports-one of the most visible and important subsets of American culture-directly reflect our society's beliefs about race. This book examines racial controversy and conflict in various sports in the United States in both previous eras as well as the current Age of Obama. The essays in the work explain how racial ideologies are created and recreated in all areas of public life, including the world of sports. The authors address a wide range of sports, including ones where racial minorities are in the numerical minority, such as hockey. Specific topics covered include the devaluation of black athletes, racism in Major League Baseball, and the treatment of black female athletes. Enables readers to comprehend how sports influence-and are influenced by-society, and grasp that both race and sports are powerful social constructions Contains contributions from sociologist and social theorist Joe Feagin, a highly respected authority on the subject of race Identifies and discusses the institutional barriers and personal practices regarding African Americans that perpetuate racism in sports and our society at large