When I first read Donovan McNabb’s comments on HBO about being a black quarterback, I thought “no big deal”, white journalists probably ask him stuff /say stuff about him all the time that they wouldn't say about white quarterbacks and don’t even realize they’re doing it. Does it mean McNabb’s saying that that white journalists are going home burning crosses and putting on white hoods and are out to stamp out the black quarterback? No, but its not outlandish to say we live in a racist society and that we all (even the mental giants that we call sports journalists) probably act differently towards people based on their appearances more than we want to admit.
That’s why I loved reading about the study that analyzed 13 years of referee foul calls in the NBA, because the study took a population that’s rigorously monitored to ensure neutrality (refs) and controlling for a ton of factors, STILL found evidence of racial bias. I shudder to think what you would find if you analyzed my behavior towards people of different races that rigorously over 13 years.
Unfortunately, the issue in the media became about labeling which referees were “racist” and “not racist” (as if they were either/or categories like pure good and pure evil) rather than an opportunity to learn about what unconsciously guides our behavior towards others.
…several prominent academic economists said it [the study] would contribute to the growing literature regarding subconscious racism in the workplace and elsewhere, such as in searches by the police.So McNabb, who was just answering a question honestly, is now the center of controversy because some idiot white sports journalists can’t possibly believe they could ever in the slightest bit be biased in their coverage of athletes of color.
“I would be more surprised if it didn’t exist,” Mr. Ayres said of an implicit association bias in the N.B.A. “There’s a growing consensus that a large proportion of racialized decisions is not driven by any conscious race discrimination, but that it is often just driven by unconscious, or subconscious, attitudes. When you force people to make snap decisions, they often can’t keep themselves from subconsciously treating blacks different than whites, men different from women.”
Which brings me to my Jimmy Rollins for MVP campaign (only IF they win the division, which I am rooting firmly against).
As a Mets fan, let me say up front that I detest the Phillies, and by association, Jimmy Rollins.
But in spring training, I watched in fascination as the overwhelmingly white sports media piled on him for saying the Phillies, and not the Mets, were “the team to beat” in the NL East.
Apparently, Rollins was not showing enough deference to the defending NL east champs and running his mouth and not letting his actions on the field speak for him. I love my Mets, but I didn’t give a shit that Rollins said what he did. He was trying to get his team inspired and believing in themselves (a franchise that’s been mired in negativity for way too many years), but instead of praising him for his “leadership”, he became just another trash talking overly brash black athlete.
Watching the double standard towards black athletes unfold with Rollins was amazing. I couldn’t believe he was getting crap for such an innocuous remark, there was no way a white athlete would have been treated the same way for trying to get his team amped. It turns out now that Jimmy Rollins has had an MVP year full of clutch hits and great defense and his team might actually (*gulp) pull off an incredible upset.
If the Phillies win the East, I gotta say, Rollins for NL MVP.
But, Lets Go Mets!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment