It’s Worth a Shot: Can Sports Combat Racism in the United States?

Abstract

Racism has stained this country throughout its history, and racism persists today in the United States, including in sports. Sports represents a reflection of society, but it can also provide a powerful means to combat racism. This article examines the state of racism in society and sports today, as well as historically. It also provides background on how racism develops and how it can be countered. The article also analyzes what is currently being done to address racism through sports in the United States, and then it provides practical and tangible ways sports can be used to battle racism. Several opportunities exist to utilize sports in the battle against racism. Since racial biases can begin in children as young as age four, the article promotes the three E’s to fight racism using sports — education and experience that occur early in one’s life. Education and experiences through sports for young children of different races that allow them to interact meaningfully will help overcome implicit biases and racial stereotypes. Sports can also subvert racism by providing opportunities and access to jobs for minorities in leadership positions. This article concludes that if sports can create any type of positive impact in combatting racism, which it can, then those efforts are shots worth taking.

Keywords: race, racism, race and the law, sports and racism, sports and race, public policy, youth sports, discrimination, Rooney Rule, professional sports, education on racism, history of racism, race in the United States, social justice, racial injustice, racial inequality, critical race theory