Ethics in Sports
Racial Equity
By: Jeffry Breitbach
&
Kyle Conzett
Racism Definition
 Racism-
is the belief that race is the
primary determinant of human traits and
capacities and that racial differences
produce an inherent superiority of one
particular race over others.
Racial Equity Background



Discriminatory practices and written and
unwritten agreements prevented African
Americans from competing against and with
the supposed white dominant Caucasian
race.
White males dominated sport because of
moral ignorance supported by racist
education and social systems.
Most whites accepted and acted upon the
belief that everyone else was inherently
inferior and undeserving of equitable
treatment.
Racial Equity Background




Ethical concerns emerged because of
discriminatory treatment based on preconceived
ideas, unfounded prejudices, and widespread
biases.
Most white sport leaders and athletes simply
refused to allow African Americans, and
sometimes other minorities, to join their leagues.
When a few tried to break these barriers, they
were verbally and physically assaulted.
African Americans formed separate teams and
competed among themselves.
Racial Injustices in Sport:
Past & Present
 Historical
Perspective of Racial Inequity in
Sport
 From Exclusion to Opportunities Limited by
Economic Realities
 School Segregation Gives Way to
Integration
 Integration of Intercollegiate Sport
 Professional Sport
 Societal Attitudes
Historical Perspective of Racial
Inequity in Sport
 Unheard
of African American super stars:
- Paul Robeson (Football)
- Ora Washington (Tennis & Basketball)
- Josh Gibson (Baseball)
 To
most whites, these African American
athletes were ignored or even worse.
Class Discussion Question
 Did
the exclusion of African Americans
from all levels of sport violate any moral
values?
 Did white sport leaders fail to reason
morally and thus act in unethical manner?
From Exclusion to Opportunities
Limited by Economic Realities

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Lack of financial resources many African
Americans never got the chance to play golf,
to swim, to play tennis, or compete in other
similar activities.
Even in recent decades, few African
American children are members of swimming,
tennis, and golf clubs or gymnastics teams.
Notable exceptions:
- Tiger Woods
- Arthur Ashe
School Segregation Gives Way
to Integration
 Civil
Rights Legislation 1960s, segregated
schools became illegal.
 Due to integration many African
American coaches lost their jobs, while
almost all white coaches retained their
positions.
Remember the Titans
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZVD
BDzQoBE
Class Discussion Questions


Would a more reasoned approach have
been to promote cultural diversity by placing
students of all races in both former all-white
and all-black schools, rather than usually
uprooting African American students?
Today, many football and basketball teams
have a much higher percentage of African
Americans that do the schools student
bodies. What are the ethical issues associated
with this phenomenon?
Integration of Intercollegiate
Sport
 Occasionally
in the past when African
Americans did get to play on the Northern
athletic teams:

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
Suffered mistreatment from teammates
Segregated sleeping and eating quarters
Endured physical and verbal abuse
Did not get to play when Southern teams
refused to play against them.
Integration of Intercollegiate
Sport Examples
Johnny Bright Incident
Johnny Bright Incident
Johnny Bright Incident
Johnny Bright Incident
Johnny Bright Incident
Integration of Intercollegiate
Sport Examples
 Johnny

Quarterback for Drake University
 Mitchell

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
Bright
Tatum
Halfback for Midwestern University
Music Major
Conference Record 1,572 yards
Dr. Cooper – Music Director at the famed
Southern College
Professional Sport
 In
the past African Americans often lived
and ate together, socially segregated
from their white teammates.
 Until recently African Americans could not
expect to receive endorsements.
(Michael Jordan & Tiger Woods)
 For decades, African Americans were not
expected to be hired as coaches and
administrators in professional sport.
Professional Sport
 African
Americans today comprise for
65% of football athletes and 15% of
baseball.
 Proportionately fewer substitutes of color
ride the bench.
 Many African Americans receive lower
salaries than comparably skilled white
athletes.
Class Discussion Question
 How
can moral knowing and moral
valuing bring about greater equity in sport
for African Americans?
Societal Attitude
 Socioeconomic
status determines sport
choice
 Gradually African Americans achieved
equal status
 Today athletic talent counts
 The key to equity is education
Separate but Equal
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

was a policy enacted into law throughout the
U.S. Southern states during the period of
segregation
It stated that African-Americans and
European-Americans would receive the same
services (schools, hospitals, water fountains,
bathrooms, etc.), but that there would be
distinct facilities for each race.
Due to racist attitudes, however, the facilities
were, in fact, unequal, with poorer facilities
being allotted to Blacks than to Whites.
Are Organizational Policies Affecting
African Americans Disproportionately?
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No Pass, No Play
Students raised in disadvantaged
circumstances educational encouragement
or proper learning materials.
This can cause students to fall behind
academically.
NCAA mandates 68 cumulative ACT score
and 2.5 GPA to be eligible for grants.
Are Organizational Policies Affecting
African Americans Disproportionately?
 Some
African American coaches have
protested that these academic
requirements discriminate against people
of color.
 College presidents and athletic
administrators claim that higher standards
have been enacted to improve the
image and integrity of intercollegiate
athletics, not to discriminate against
African Americans.
Class Discussion Questions
 Do
you support one side or another about
the academic requirement policies?
 When athletes are given grades to
maintain eligibility are they being
deprived on an adequate education?
 Are they being taught to value athletics
more than education?
 Are they being taught dishonesty?
Role Models
 99%
of high school athletes never
become pros
 Within 3 to 5 years they are without a job
 Importance of role models start at young
age
 Students choose role models in same
sport
Stacking
 Stacking
(position allocation)- is the
practice of concentrating members of
certain racial groups in certain positions,
on and off the field.

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1)racist stereotypes
2)racial discrimination
3)economic assumptions
4)self-selection
5)emulate historically successful athletes
6)residual prejudicial attitude
Quota System
 Only
a limited number of minorities could
play at one time.
 This has restricted opportunities for
minorities at all levels of sporting.
Class Discussion Question
 Have
coaches that have tried to
persuade players into certain athletic
roles based on color treated these
athletes dishonestly?
African American Athletes as
Portrayed in the Media
 Hank
Aaron
 Bill Russell
 Arthur Ashe
 Cam Newton
Native Americans as
Portrayed in the Media
 Washington
Redskins
 Braves
 Sioux
 Who
determines what is racist?
Myths
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African Americans are physiologically superior.
African Americans are intellectually inferior thus
not qualified for coaching or team management
positions.
African American athletes use sport as a vehicle
for upward mobility.
African American athletes are treated as equals of
their white teammates.
African American athletes have the ability to play
only reactive, rather than decision-making or
leadership positions.
African Americans are
physiologically superior
 In
reality the research is inconclusive
 Knowledgeable people continue to
disagree about finding in related subject
matter.
African Americans are intellectually inferior
thus not qualified for coaching or team
management positions
 Many
African American coaches today
thrive and are successful (Lovie Smith,
Mike Tomlin, etc.)
 “good old boys” network led to hiring of
coaches, scouts, and general managers
of similar ethnic and social backgrounds.
 This may have been due to comfort in
hiring someone like themselves, rather
than someone unknown and unsimilar.
African American athletes use sport as
a vehicle for upward mobility
1
: 1,000,000 chance of becoming a
professional athlete.
 Of this small % these athletes average less
than a five year career.
 Chasing elusive media superstardom
leaves to many of today’s youth
squandering education opportunities.
African American athletes are treated
as equals of their white teammates
 African

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
Americans on average:
Earn lower salaries
Receive fewer and smaller endorsements
Receive less media exposure
Seldom are retained if are marginal players
African American athletes have the ability to play
only reactive, rather than decision-making or
leadership positions
 Lack
of moral valuing has retarded
opportunities to develop the leadership
skills needs to play certain positions (i.e.
quarterback, catcher).
 With this being said African American
have demonstrated the skills required to
play every position in sports such as
football, basketball, and baseball.