When one thinks of athletes, one may think of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, Serena and Venus Williams, Walter Payton, or many other star athletes. But what do all these people have in common? They are all African American. Since a significant number of athletes in the United States are African American, many stereotypes have been created over the years. Some stereotypes emphasize that black people have a different physical structure then others, have bestial behaviors, and are considered to be violent or unfair. These stereotypes explain why some people consider African Americans preeminent.
Whenever one thinks about their favorite athletes, a noticeable percentage of them will be African American. Due to the fact that roughly 76 percent of the NBA’s players are African American, we ponder about these statistics. Over the years, people have come up with prejudices that have developed into stereotypes. One such stereotype is that black people have a different physical structure then other races. We have come to believe that black people have extra muscles, tendons, ligaments, and sometimes bones in the legs that improve their physical performance. Extra muscles and tendons may explain why black basketball players perform showy and flashy dunks. Extra muscles may also explain how Spud Webb, a 1.68 meters tall African American basketball player with a vertical jump of 1.07m won the NBA dunk contest in 1986. How We now know, however, that all of this is false and that all humans have the same structure, regardless of skin color. The African-Americans agile bodies, however, may have something to do with their culture. Most African cultures include extensive running and hunting activities that require quick and agile bodies. These cultural traits may be linked to these players' performances.
Not only is it claimed that African Americans have more agile bodies, but it is also claimed that they have bestial behavior. Black people tend to be the fastest people on the planet today. They hold the most records, and Kenya holds about 40 percent of the world records when it comes to running. These feats of strength and speed are due to their day to day training and not due to any advantages over the other races when it comes to pure body performance. Once again, their talent may be linked to their culture – not just their ancestral culture, but their modern way of life as well. For example, they might play basketball regularly, go jogging every day, or practice various activities that increase their talent at these various sports. All these key physical activities may reasonably explain their incredible performance in sports.
Although African Americans are considered to be stronger and more agile than the rest, they are also infamous for cheating and being violent. Who do we think of when we think of cheating? Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmeiro. These players have either been suspended for, admitted using, or been suspected for using steroids. Steroids are drugs that give one a boost of physical strength and increase muscle mass significantly. They are illegal in the MLB and all other sports, and are considered the most used drug by baseball players. Using steroids is considered cheating, and not only are black athletes said to be cheaters, but they are also said to be violent. In the past years, during a basketball game with the Nuggets and Knicks, Carmelo Anthony has hammered Mandy Collins in the jaw due to a bad play. These actions are very violent, especially in a non-contact sport like basketball. In a more recent example, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards pulled out a gun on his teammate Javaris Crittenton in the team locker room over a gambling debt. This violent action shocked the whole world, considering the fact that they had firearms stored in their lockers. Their behavior was considered negative and was looked upon as violent. But the stereotype that black people are more violent or aggressive than the other races is untrue. It is in the human nature to judge a whole race based only on certain indvividuals, which is wrong.
The stereotypes about African American athletes have been around for centuries. Some stereotypes emphasize that black people have a different physical structure than others; others that they have bestial behaviors and are violent or unfair. These stereotypes are what make black athletes seem preeminent and infamous. And what we hear is what we believe. Even though we might be tempted to succumb to these stereotypes, we must remember that violent people are found in all races. And sooner or later, these stereotypes have to be forgotten and lost. We will never forget the amazing things black athletes have accomplished. We will never forget Michael Jordan dunking from the free throw line, or Jackie Robinson being the first African American baseball player in the MLB. African Americans have changed the world of sports significantly, and will continue to surprise us. Every now and then, however, a new stereotype is created, and will stick around for a while.
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