They're Just Born With It

There are so many stereotypes about people of different ethnic backgrounds. Oftentimes we don’t even know that the stereotypes exist before we are knee deep in the midst of them. I don’t really even know what a stereotype is other than someone’s opinion or a faulty judgment. Most stereotypes aren’t credible and aren’t based on any scientific evidence. I have been close to many groups that have been scrutinized and stereotyped.

As a black American, I am a member of a race of people who are the subject of so much scrutiny and stereotypes. As a black woman, I am subject to a completely different set of stereotypes. There are just so many out there. Of all the stereotypes, I think the ones that are the most prevalent among the black community have to do with our ancestry. It’s a known fact that black Americans are of African ancestry. Our forefathers were kings and queens from another land in another time. Many people are under the impression that African rituals that may have been seen on the Discovery Channel or read about in National Geographic are ones that pulse through the veins of blacks and allow us to be faster, stronger, more rhythmic, and aggressive. Each of these adjectives is quite positive on its own, but when applied to blacks, they are viewed as a natural advantage in sports.

The black athlete is a case study all its own, but black men and women aren’t just natural athletes, they work at it. You do see us dominate many sports, but it is important to look at which sports they are: basketball, football, and track and field. It’s not our natural ability that has allowed us to excel in these sports, but accessibility. None of these sports require major buy-in from those wanting to participate. If you have a ball, you can practice and strive to be the next Michael Jordan or Joe Montana. Track and field is even easier; you just need your body, no equipment. Many of the great athletes hail from small, rural communities that don’t have access to movie theaters, malls, or other outlets and sports are the focus. With limited options, many young men and women turn to sports for recreation and they have little to distract them from learning and perfecting their game. It’s not uncommon to see double and triple-threat athletes. Baseball used to be among this group when we had Negro Leagues, but those went away when blacks were integrated into the major leagues. Today baseball is dominated by Hispanics and Latinos for the same reason that blacks dominated the sport initially…accessibility.

There is also another layer in sports based on positioning. Yes, black athletes are on the football field in numbers, but it was years before we saw a black quarterback. Why? Because that position was said to have required more thinking and strategy and black athletes weren’t thought of as thinkers. Can you imagine the insult? Blacks had to fight to prove that they were good enough to play any position and that they too were intelligent thinkers. They developed a certain focus and determination that can be compared to that of a scientist or other great professional.

Sports like golf, polo, and racing are not the focus for black athletes because the high cost to participate makes them unattainable. The costs would be high for most Americans and therefore, you have a certain group that is going to be able to participate and a certain group that will be excluded. Black athletes are often self-taught and driven toward success because it’s not just about them. It’s about family and looking at sports as a viable professional opportunity for them. While black athletes may have some natural ability, you have to combine that with learned ability to become a star. They’re not just born with it.

-Daphane is a blogger for The Sorbate. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.