The Difference Between Us: The Power Of An Illusion '

I got very intrigue by the assumptions that were made about mexicans in chapter 2. “Look at how short they are.” (Christina Henriquez) It is shocking how there are so many tall mexicans but still people assumed they are all short, or look indians. I found it even more surprising how Latinos make these assumptions as well. “ I was a Latino and male, and not a cripple, therefore I should play Soccer. Soccer was for Latinos, Basketball for blacks and the whites could keep their tennis.” ( Christina Henriquez) I do not understand how a sport is for an specific race. How can a skin color could affect the way you play or learn a sport. Why do latinos play soccer and blacks play Basketball? Why do we think like this? It intrigues me a lot how these

One interesting view by Douglas Hartmann in his journal article entitled “Rethinking The Relationships Between Sports And Race In American Culture: Golden Ghettos And Contested Terrain” said that racial issues in sport is; borrowing Stuart Hall (1981) words- “a contested racial terrain” (qtd. in Hartmann 241). The “contested racial terrain” is defined as “a social site where racial images, ideologies, and inequalities are constructed, transformed, and constantly struggled over” (Hartmann 230). In other words, sports have become a medium where the definition and limitation of racism created. This also means that the definition of racial issues will constantly change over time. Hartmann view is interesting seeing that he believes that the context of racism in sports are actually broader than we actually think. He did not agree with the simple view of because racial discrimination happens in our society, thus racial discrimination also happens in sports (Hartmann 242). He further delves into two interesting problems in stereotyping and biasing.

When the group of male students are first introduced to their summer training camp, students are roomed with someone of the opposite race, it begins a long and hard road for them to move past some of their preconceptions. At first players are instructed to learn more about every player of both race. But there are major turning points such as when black and white players finally see past differences that are imposed, and they begin to connect and become better athletes and people. I see the camp as an ideal for a movement for the team to get away from the bias of their community and grow together as a team. Most of the young men start to see the bigger picture and that they all want to win. Although this is a gradual process, most of them gain each other’s respect and friendship by the end of the trip.

In the history of sports, race and genetics have often been associated with athletic capacity. This idea of biological determinism relies on the theory of differences in athletic performance being based on genetic differences and therefore success being natured, which has often been opposed to the idea of success being instead nurtured. In Malcolm Gladwell’s, “The Sports Taboo”, he argues against the genetically deterministic argument of black superiority in athletics and, with this, sheds light on the racial aspects of sports. He focuses on genetics and on the wider degree of genetic variation among different races. He uses the example of the apparent genetic superiority of Kenyans in long-distance running and mentions

The topic that I chose for this ethnographic interview was sports in American culture. Sports are popular in America, and are a big part of the culture in America. I would say most people in America have played sports, whether they played as kids, in high school, at the collegiate level, or even professional. A great deal of people also enjoy watching sporting events. The following were the questions asked during the interview. How have sports affected your life? Why do you think sports are so popular in America’s culture? How are sports a part of the culture in America? What do you think about the amount of money spent on spectator sports?

The topic of race in sport, particularly African Americans in sport, has long been a controversial yet, widely discussed matter. Human and social issues are never easy subjects to discuss or debate, and racial differences tend to provoke very strong reactions. To begin, we will explore those whom claim that black athletes excel in sports as a result of their biological make up. Of all players in the NBA, more than 75% of them are black; of all players in the WNBA, more than 70% of them are black; of all players in the NFL, more than 65% of them are black (Hoenig, 2014). Evidently, black athletes make up a vast majority of these sports in the United States. Athletes must be of elite caliber to have the ability to play at this level, so this

According to Ang, (2005:84), difference can be characterized by the quality of being unlike or dissimilar. This essay is going to outline ways in which ‘difference’ has been theorized. To further demonstrate the concept of difference the audience will be provided with an analysis of how race is socially and culturally constructed. Additionally, this will provide a framework of research produced by various scholars in which they have theorized issues in regards to race. Through the works of Hatch, Hall and Jiwani, it can be proven that the process of defining race has benefited the agendas of particular social groups, and can identified as social construction.

Omi and Winant’s discussion from “Racial Formations” are generally about race being a social construct and is also demonstrated in the viewing of Race - The power of an illusion. Omi and Winant have both agreed that race is socially constructed in society. Ultimately this means that race is seen differently in different societies and different cultures. Media, politics, school, economy and family helps alter society’s structure of race. In the viewing , also media as well as history seemed to create race by showing how social norms have evolved in different racial groups.

I would like to discuss the issue of race and ethnicity in sports. We will also explore the bigger questions. How much does race and ethnicity matter in the sports world? Are certain races dominant in certain sports? Is there a difference in how we treat players based on race and ethnicity? Does it matter? I would like to answer some of these questions and gain a better understanding of how much of a part they play.

Sports participation is something that is looked at closely in todays society because of the amount of participants there are in sports today. Social classes and participation is heavily influenced by the way people live their lives, where they live, what country they live in , and perhaps most importantly, the socioeconomic class they may fall into. In some understatements, sports may serve as an identifier of what social class a family or individual may fall into, simply by looking at who we are dealing with and what sport this individual may play. As a student in a sport sociology class we find trends in countries worldwide when comparing certain sport involvement and social class. Throughout this essay I will have three arguments that will support my point about social class and participation in sports. My first point will be how economic resources affect the middle-class, second will be how social capital affects middle-class sports, and lastly lower-class and participation in sports.

Change or Illusion was a speech for the Black Sash Organization given by a prominent Nobel Peace Prize recipient Desmund Tutu, who is known for his efforts of trying to ease the division in South Africa and helping to end discrimination. Tutus’ main argument in the speech is the state of injustice and oppression he and fellow men alike are subject to endure in there native homeland (35). This is one of the first formal speeches where a speaker has taken the time to combine sarcasm as a tool to mention the perplex system about how to differentiate which public facilities a person can go into (34). Never before in history has a person openly ridicule the random use of discriminating signs.

In Sigmund Freud’s famous philosophical work titled The Future of an Illusion, he uses psychoanalysis to explain the origins of the concept of God. He presents valid arguments as to why God is merely a concept created by humans to answer frustrating questions about life in a satisfying way, and the work seems to be sound in its entirety. However, there is an important weakness in Freud’s reasoning in that if God is meant to create order in the universe, why does the thought of Him create conflict, fear, and contradiction? Furthermore, though his psychoanalytic explanation provides fascinating answers to why people believe in God, it cannot demonstrate that God definitely does not exist.

Today’s society has lost its values and social responsibility. Our lives have become literally “empty” of anything to value or to relate to. We have grown so afraid to risk true emotion from within, that we seek it outside ourselves. One way this emptiness is filled is by the seductive stimulation of reality TV.

What is the social role of sport? To what extent does social structure influence the practice and experience of sport? Discuss in relation to two of the following: gender, class, ethnicity or Aboriginality, or region. Illustrate your answer with at least three examples from sporting contexts (local or international).

“Sports are for fun, but they also offer benefits and lessons that carry over into all aspects of life”. This well-known anonymous quotation conveys the message that sport is the game which has some rules and custom. It is not only for fun and entertainment, but there are also some benefits of playing sports and which gives some important lessons for life. Every kind of physical sports is healthy because it involves running, jumping, stretching, mind skills and much more. There are so many sports available in the world nowadays, but we can categorize them by the numbers of players, the three main categories are individual sport, dual sport and team sport.