Final Blog

To rebuttal against Deford's statement that we should embrace the fact that professional athletes are not role models. For one, many people watch and are influenced by sports, especially the younger audience. If we let athletes get away with things, such as Ben, we are showing are youth that it is ok to do whatever you want when are a high profile athlete and that you are above everybody else, This is not the mesage that is needed for today's generation. I think you can look at Michael Vick's case and people can learn from that. He was a high profile athlete but was still punished which is how it should b. That shows kids that you cannot get away with whatever you want.
The thing that made the most sense to me from our class was the social class issues. Talking about Marxist ideas made sense to me because I had a class about those issues. The topic that was hard to appreciate at first was hegemony. The most powerful or memorable part for me was learning about the first women to run a marathon. That really stuck out to me and helped me realize what they went through.

Concluding Thoughts

Dear Class,
For this last blog it is imperative that you bring a hard copy to class. I only give you half credit for it if you don't. Ok, with that positive start let's get to work. This week Frank Deford wrote an article about Ben Roethlisburger. I promise I am not attempting to revisit Big Ben again, but Deford's argument strikes me as the antithesis to the project that this class engages in on a weekly basis. Deford says that we need to embrace the fact that all high-profile athletes are not role models. To me this smacks of a type of sensibility that does not understand or respect the cultural power that sport holds in American society. Sport is a site that is constructed, but still remains a place to resist, transform, and perpetuate the status quo (not just of sport, but of society in general). In the first part of your blog pretend you are providing a rebuttal statement to Deford as an NPR affiliate/ sport pundit. Use at least one conceptual example, one historical (time/incident specific example) and one reference to a reading from our class to make your point. It doesn't need to be very long, just very clear and convincing.

Second, in under 250 words, discuss one thing from the course material that made the most sense to you. Discuss one concept that took you a few attempts to grasp or appreciate, and one concept or incident that remains the most powerful or memorable to you. Please take care with this section as we will use this part of your blog to conduct our class's closing activity.

Wise, Zirin, Coakley

Tim Wise’s main and strongest argument is centered around white privilege. He plays a game where he compares situations where white people engaged in violent or questionable acts and were seen as being patriotic, and not a threat. And then shows the opposite, when a person of color does similar things, even on a smaller scale, they are feared, criticized and seen as anti-American. This difference arises purely because of skin color. 

Zirin’s main argument with respect to the Ben Roethlisberger’s sexual assault case is that Roethlisberger should thank his lucky stars that he is white. He has been accused of raping a 20-year-old student in a bar. Thanks to lawyers, wealth, fame and his skin color, Roethlisberger may escape jail and even a trial. Comparing this to the Michael Vick case, Vick was suspended from the NFL for his conviction of fighting and abusing dogs while Roethlisberger may walk away with no charges for possibly raping a woman.

These white privilege-isms tie to McIntosh’s examples from “Unpacking the Knapsack” because white people are so used to conveniences in life due to skin color that it becomes normalized and expected. White people are equipped with many things automatically. Vick had the lawyers, wealth and fame like Roelisberger, the only difference: Vick is black, and Roethlisberger is white. Roethlisberger is automatically privileged.

With respect to patriarchy, supremacy and classism, supremacy and particularly white supremacy is most evident in the Zirin article. Vick was charged and convicted while Roethlisberger escaped conviction. In Zirin’s article, patriarchy is the result once again of skin color. Both males are wealthy, but Roethlisberger is a byproduct of white privilege putting him higher up than Vick. As far as classism, that is most evident in Wise’s article. White people can get away with more socially unacceptable acts because of their skin color. When white people reciprocate these actions, they are reprimanded.

Coakley’s argument of black athletic destiny is that many young black, men, grow up believing the black body is superior when it comes to physical abilities in certain sports (286). They believe that the only way they will be recognized in society as being successful is through athletics. Coakley notes a great difference between black and white athletes. Black athletes are driven in athletics due to biological predispositions. They have the genetics to make them successful largely due to their history, whereas white athletes, particularly men, succeed in sport due to cultural and social influences. This is why scientists do not conduct studies to identify genes that would predispose a white person to succeed in sport. The white hockey players and white skiers grow up with skates or skis on when they are taking their first steps. They have the environment to thrive in their skill, without having the genes to make it possible. 

zirin, wise, coakley

Zirins article emphasizes strongly that being white, wealthy, and having a high athletic ability can ultimately save people from prosecution. This can be seen when comparing Ben Roethlisberger to Michaels Vicks criminal trial. Ben Roethlisberger was acquitted of all charges when he was accused of raping a 20 year old. It was said that he was acquitted because he was white, rich, and extremely talented at football; and that he should thank god for his ‘whiteness.’ When compared to Michael Vicks trial about regarding dog-fighting charges, he was convicted and sentences. Some argue that this shows how inferior women are in comparison to dogs and how being white comes with privileges (being acquitted of charges).

Wises article argues that whites should be punished just as blacks would in the same types of situations. Being white is not a free pass to threatened act violent towards others and should come with equal consequences. If blacks were to do the same crime as a white individuals, the black would be punished more sever. Wise alludes to role reversals in regards to certain situations (if a black did this, do you think a white would be treated the same if he were to do it too?). These two articles relate to “Unpacking the Knapsack” because whiteness and privileges that follow are everywhere around us without society even realizing it. It’s when we think about those -what if?- situations that we bring these differences to light.

Coakley’s argument in his article refers to blacks and their “athletic dynasty” and obligations to play sports as their means of upward mobility. They feel that sport favors them because of cultural and biological influences are superior to whites. These actually can aid blacks in their success in sport. For blacks, people believe genetics play the major role in success; they can jump higher and run faster and have a better overall athletic ability. But for whites, it’s their social and cultural aspects that result in success as apposed to biological and genetic forces. I see it this way, white success athletic ability doesn’t lead to questioning but when a black succeeds in sport, people are constantly analyzing and trying to reveal why they succeeded.

1. Zirin article

· Zirins main argument in the article he wrote about Ben Roethlisburger was that if he were anybody other than himself this case would be treated totally different. He makes the point that if he wasn’t white and a rich pro football player the circumstances would be much different. He compares his case to that of Michael Vick and makes a good point by saying that Vick was in trouble for mistreating dogs and got suspended and had to go through a lot to make up for it. Zirin says that we’ll see how important the NFL thinks of mistreating women by the punishment Ben gets. The case against him was very strong and if he wasn’t a famous football player there would most likely be no question about what would happen to him at trial but instead the case won’t even go that far. This relates to “Unpacking the Knapsack” because Peggy talks about the privileges whites get and many of them are applying the Ben in this case. He has the privilege to not get in trouble and have it be based on his race. He also has the privilege to have legal help if needed and not have his race work against him. If under any other circumstances it is clear things would be much different. This case is also another example of patriarchy. The man over powering the women and getting away with it. He has more power than her and in the case she wouldn’t have been portrayed in a good way, which is part of the reason why she decided against it. The whole situation is totally unfair and promotes the hegemonic ideology.

2. Wise article

· In Tim Wises article about white privilege he makes his point and main argument very clear. He basically says that to be white you can get away with so many things compared to if you did the same things but were of another race. I like how every paragraph is a really good example to prove his point. Every example starts off with what if a black person did this when really a white person did it. It’s easy to see how people would have reacted if someone black did do that but most don’t consider it a big deal that whites are actually doing or saying those things. One good example was about President Obamas wife. He says what if a black person was saying insulting things about a white presidents daughter because a white person actually did that about Malia Obama. It’s really sad that these things are accepted and not thought of as offensively as they would have been if it was turned around. This relates to Peggys article where she says “I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.” This article totally shows the idea of white supremacy. It gives many examples where white people are thought of as superior to other races. It’s really a sad truth to face.

3. Coakley Chapter

· Coakley talks about the idea that many black men have through their lives that they are destined to be athletes. They believe their bodies are superior and made for this reason. Many believe that there are few other ways they can gain as much respect other than in sport. Many black people feel as if there aren’t many opportunities for them in other fields compared to the opportunity they have in sport. They strive to be better than everyone when it comes to athletics. These ideas actually help some black men to succeed in sport. It doesn’t give the opportunity to all though. Many don’t succeed and end up feeling like there are no other options. It’s a common belief among them that in a white world sport is made for blacks. This also causes problems for black men that don’t want to compete in sports. Many people try and say that a lot of achievements blacks have in sport is based on their genetic abilities like being able to run fast and jump high. When white people succeed in things people don’t think of it like that. With whites it based on social and cultural things to help them win but with blacks it’s thought of as biological and genetic. People don’t feel the need to question whites on their abilities but when it comes to blacks they feel a need to research and have an explanation. Experts criticize these ideas and say that ability like jumping can’t be linked to one specific gene.

In Zirin's article about Ben Roethlisburger, he argues that legal action should be taken against Roethlisburger and he should be punished according to his crime. Even though he's not yet been convicted, Zirin argues that sexual assault is a serious-enough accusation that punishment from the NFL should be issued, in the form of suspension and various other atonements. He argues that Roethlisburger is getting off easy because he resides on a "white pedestal of wealth and fame," and that if he were black he may not even make it to trial before being sent to prison. The evidence against Roethlisburger seems overwhelmingly convincing, but because of his race, fame, and wealth, he's not yet been convicted. Zirin compares this case with that of Michael Vick abusing dogs, and notes how seriously he was punished. Zirin firmly believes Roethlisburger should be punished accordingly, without our society's ideology of white supremacy working in Roethlisburger's favor and playing a role in viewing him as innocent.
Wise argues a similar view, that whites should be treated and "punished" as blacks would be when doing the same things. He argues that white supremacy shouldn't be a free pass to threaten others and act in violent manners without consequences, because if black people did the same things they'd likely be punished, and in a far more severe manner than if whites were even punished at all. Wise gives several examples of racist acts performed by whites, and asks readers to imagine what would happen if blacks did the same things to white people. If roles were reversed, the reactions and punishments would be quite different. However, thanks to the ideology of white supremacy, whites can "get away" with such actions without facing dire consequences.
The two arguments in these articles are compatible with McIntire's "Unpacking the Knapsack" examples because white privilege is so widespread and normalized that often our society doesn't even realize its effects. It only becomes evident if we compare white experiences to black experiences and look at their differences that we realize how biased our society is. If we think of role reversals, like in Wise's article, then we become aware of white privilege, but this happens far too infrequently to be able to start trying to change the status quo of white supremacy.
Coakley discusses the myth of black athletic destiny, and how it is explained by how blacks, especially men, are raised to believe they are superior when it comes to physical abilities and certain sports, and that it is their destiny to excel. This belief pushes them to train harder in their specific sport, yielding incredible results and success. This myth of black athletic destiny is further perpetuated when they feel that their chances of gaining respect and prestige are small in other contexts and realms outside sport, and when they experience restricted opportunities in other potential occupations. All these factors preserve the myth of black athletic destiny, and heavily influence the choices blacks make in regards to sport choice and beliefs that they can achieve superiority and success.
Sociologists make several critiques about the genetic explanations of black athletic achievements. One of them is that human actions can't be reduced to the effects of particular genes, and that environmental factors play a huge role in activating and suppressing genes. Various chemicals and hormones also play a part in gene regulation, which are in turn influenced by the environment as well. Sociologists also critique that athletic ability and success in a sport requires a great many genes, and that this only provides a partial explanation of athletic ability. There is no evidence that shows that specific sport performances are enhanced by skin color, and to say black athletic achievements are based solely on genetics is ridiculous.
Studies similar to these aren't conducted on white athletes, because when whites succeed in athletics it's viewed as a result of cultural and social factors. Skiers from Austria, for example, are good because of their environment and the opportunities they had growing up to ski with friends and family. This is a readily simple explanation, and one that would be boring to study.