Racism in Sports: An Investigation Report Based on Athlete Interviews

This report presents an investigation into racism in sports, based on interviews with three athletes. The interviews explore the athletes' backgrounds, experiences with racism, and perspectives on related concepts like white supremacy and anti-blackness. The athletes discuss their personal encounters with discrimination, their reactions to racism, and their views on how to address racial issues in sports. The report also examines the athletes' opinions on global racism, the role of globalization, and potential solutions to improve race relations. The findings offer insights into the impact of racism on athletes and the broader sports environment, contributing to a sociological understanding of this complex issue. The report is a product of a KINS 1161 assignment, focusing on the sociological examination of a social issue in sports.

Topic: Racism in Sports
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
 Interviewer: X Interviewee: Athlete 1
(Soccer player) Date conducted: June 8th, 2019
Method: In person interview
1. Background information: How long have you been in sports sector and at what level?
The player began playing at the age of 9 years on house and afterwards in non-competitive teams
in grade 10. From grade 11 onwards the athlete made a debut in competitive gold teams.
a. Have you ever experienced racism in sports carrier? If yes, how did you overcome?
No, the athlete did not face any racism in the sports career as he is a white American
b. If a child asks you what is racism? How will you explain racism to him/her?
The athlete stated that he would like to tell a child that racism is a societal phenomenon based on
discriminating the different groups of people. Being a white American he seemed to have little
concern on racism as he stated, “It is essential for identifying the supremacy”.
2.When you hear the term “racism”. What comes to your mind?
I believe that the word racism evoked the image of the black tribesmen from Africa. The word
specifically evoked the different cultural dimensions and the manner in which the same might
affect the rate of understanding of the people. On the other hand, the rate of differentiation is
again an important phenomenon that would affect the indulgence of the people in the different
fields.
a. What you know about the terms:

i)White supremacy: White supremacy is specifically based on identifying the whites as te
superior race based on the biases.
ii) Anti-blackness: The term anti- blackness is a radical thought process which evokes the need
of isolating the blacks and disrupting their connections with the modern world. The athlete stated
that the phenomenon have nothing to do with liberal thought process.
3.. If you have ever passed through the phase of racism how did it triggered your
psychological level?
“I did not face any racism events in my career or my life”
4.. Did you ever share your experience about racism with your teammates? If yes, what was
their reaction?
“I used to share my experience with my teammates but they felt reluctant to believe about my
experience on racism.” The athlete also stated that as he did not face any racist activity, being a
white American, the team members tend not to trust the experience that was shared by the
athlete.
5. If you never have had the experience of racism. Have you heard about this from someone
else and explain what problems were faced by them?
“I believe they feel isolated. However, I myself cannot empathize on their problems as I did not
face them myself. The most intriguing experience that was shared by one of my teammate
reflected the level of frustration that was encountered by the same”
6. Suppose you are a famous basketball player and one of your team members is being
teased and criticized by the other team member. What would you do?

“Can’t tell about basketball. But, if you insist me on empathizing, I would rather get off the court
and get that person on his knees before me. I don’t prefer teasing activities and I dislike
suppression. I would not tolerate this kind of activity.”
7. As, you know there has been always bias based on skin color. What would you like to
comment on this?
“Apparently, I believe that the basis of discrimination should be talent itself and not the skin
color. However, I also believe to go by the traditions that are already being benchmarked and I
think all should follow their positions in the same.”
8. Have you ever seen, or self witnessed any group member excluded from the team due to
any means of inferiority like, race, ethnic group, financial support, disability?
“No, I haven’t witnessed any such events in my lifetime or career.”
a. If yes, what strategy did they/you applied to come back in the team?
“I have no idea on the strategies that might be employed. You know, I haven’t faced such a
situation and I cannot empathize on the same until I face one similar situation myself.”
9.Do you think global racism is getting better or worse?
“I believe that globalization is the key aspect which developed the rate of racism while closely
knitting different people from diverse racial backgrounds. It is worsening due to the clashes
which might again result to drastic loss on both sides of the peril”
a. What do you think should be done to improve race issues?
“I believe proper communication between the members from the different races would support in
minimizing the racial conflicts.”
10. Why in this 21st century still racism is been witnessed? Do you think racism will ever go
way?

“No, it has become a global phenomenon which cannot be erased that easily.”

 Interviewer: X Interviewee: Athlete 2
(Basketball player) Date conducted: June 8th,
2019 Method: In person interview
1. Background information: How long have you been in sports sector and at what level?
The player have been playing since the age of 6 years on house and afterwards in the competitive
state levels.
a. Have you ever experienced racism in sports carrier? If yes, how did you overcome?
Yes, the athlete did face a racism based activity in the sports career as he was a non- dweller of
US. The athlete stated, “I was oppressed in my team and my own team members looked down on
me. However, I won over their confidence through my performance in the team.” The athlete
also added, “I collaborated with my team members on field which again supported me in wining
over their trust. ”
b. If a child asks you what is racism? How will you explain racism to him/her?
The athlete stated that he would like to tell the child that racism is a phenomenon which is being
enforced on the natives with the objective of suppressing their existence and providing equal
opportunities to the same. Being a black himself he considered racism as, “the white’s way of
showcasing their supremacy”.
2.When you hear the term “racism”. What comes to your mind?
I believe that the word racism evoked the image of deprived isolated poor beings who are
constantly deprived in the different opportunities depending on their skin color, background and
history.
a. What you know about the terms:

i)White supremacy: White supremacy is the way of the white’s in portraying themselves in the
front of the world as superior beings.
ii) Anti-blackness: The term anti- blackness is a radical thought process which the athlete
believed as a radical way of isolating the deserving blacks on the basis of skin color. The athlete
stated that the phenomenon is just the acronym of liberal thoughts.
3.. If you have ever passed through the phase of racism how did it triggered your
psychological level?
“I did face a diverse range of racism events in my career. I felt bad and frustrated at the
beginning. However, I believe I had a large amount of patience to hang on to my career with the
objective of proving my worth against all odds”
4.. Did you ever share your experience about racism with your teammates? If yes, what was
their reaction?
“I used to share my experience with my American teammates but they did not feel any genuine
feeling towards the atrocities that I faced.” The athlete added, “I have been in the sports industry
with the objective of providing my worth, where at times I felt that I am preaching fools” Again,
the athlete also recollected, “My grooming and my background was always questioned which I
neglected with an aspiration for growth”.
5. If you never have had the experience of racism. Have you heard about this from someone
else and explain what problems were faced by them?
“My own experience was enough for me to understand the pain of isolation in the name of
racism. I never undertook any conversation with anyone in this matter”
6. Suppose you are a famous basketball player and one of your team members is being
teased and criticized by the other team member. What would you do?

“Can’t tell. Maybe I am used to it. Or maybe I have lost my sense of giving reactions to the
people based on racist activities. I was suppressed myself and I have been into this since my
school days. So, I believe that meager teasing would not arouse my thoughts.”
7. As, you know there has been always bias based on skin color. What would you like to
comment on this?
“Apparently, I believe that the basis of discrimination should be talent itself and not the skin
color. However, I am so much accustomed to this things that I believe it does not matter for me
any more.”
8. Have you ever seen, or self witnessed any group member excluded from the team due to
any means of inferiority like, race, ethnic group, financial support, disability?
“I had a batch mate who was abandoned from the team due to the racial constructs. It is again
another fact that the guy did not perform well, apart from the racial points. However, the
isolation and frustration that was encountered by the batch mate devastated his growth process.”
a. If yes, what strategy did they/you applied to come back in the team?
“I had no idea what I could have done other than advising him to enhance the performance for
sustaining in the team, as I did.”
9.Do you think global racism is getting better or worse?
“I believe that the global racism is getting worse day by day through enhanced clashes”
a. What do you think should be done to improve race issues?
“I believe changes in the social structure could have changed the scenario. But I think it is hard
to change the mentality of the people. I, myself, would not be able to change the mentality of the
people. But mass acceptance would surely pave way for the change”

10. Why in this 21st century still racism is been witnessed? Do you think racism will ever go
way?
“I think I am optimistic towards the improvements.”

 Interviewer: Y Interviewee: Athlete 3
(Competitive Curler) Date conducted: June 8th,
2019 Method: In person interview
1. Background information: How long have you been in sports sector and at what level?
The player have been playing since the age of 8 years and have taken part in different
competitive sports events
a. Have you ever experienced racism in sports carrier? If yes, how did you overcome?
Yes, the athlete did face a racism based activity in the sports career as he was a non- dweller of
Europe. The athlete stated, “My name was changed and it remained the same for my entire
career. I was isolated and oppressed while I had to witness harsh behavior of my team mates and
the coach. However, I tried to collaborate with my team mates without quitting my position.”
b. If a child asks you what is racism? How will you explain racism to him/her?
The athlete stated, “ I would like to tell the child that racism is a harsh treatment that is met out
to the blacks for suppressing their talents and providing equal opportunities to the same.” The
athlete being a black himself he considered racism as, “the mean mindedness of the ‘supreme’
whites”.
2.When you hear the term “racism”. What comes to your mind?
“I believe that the word itself suggested how the isolated poor people are deprived of their
position in the different positions depending on their skin color, background and history.”
a. What you know about the terms:
i)White supremacy: “It is a way of relating to the inferiority complex- by suppressing one the
emergence of another. It is suppression in the form of a decent tongue!”

ii) Anti-blackness: “Anti- blackness? A radical thought process. I believe it as a way of isolating
the blacks and reserving better opportunities for themselves. The athlete added “I believe, the
whites are insecure”.
3.. If you have ever passed through the phase of racism how did it triggered your
psychological level?
“I did face a range of racism events in my career which devastated my career. I felt frustrated at
the beginning. But eventually I realized that this is perhaps the way through which they might
win against all odds. I was total devastated with the practice and I had to take a leave for settling
myself”
4.. Did you ever share your experience about racism with your teammates? If yes, what was
their reaction?
“I had shared my experience with my teammates but they felt nonchalant and made me feel that I
am simply wasting their time on a trifle.” The athlete also added, “I have also taken the initiative
of conveying my feelings to my coach and I was surprised to face the same nod with a
nonchalant wave of hand. I felt that I am preaching fools”
5. If you never have had the experience of racism. Have you heard about this from someone
else and explain what problems were faced by them?
“No, I did not undertake any conversation with any other colleague as I was sure to face the
same attitude”
6. Suppose you are a famous basketball player and one of your team members is being
teased and criticized by the other team member. What would you do?
“Can’t tell. Maybe I can’t emphasize beyond my capabilities. Maybe I would not give any
reactions as I am used to the common racist comments from my very school days.”

7. As, you know there has been always bias based on skin color. What would you like to
comment on this?
“I believe that people should appreciate the talent and not the skin color.”
8. Have you ever seen, or self witnessed any group member excluded from the team due to
any means of inferiority like, race, ethnic group, financial support, disability?
“I have been in a team where I was the only black. Therefore, I cannot recollect any such
instance which I have witnessed.”
a. If yes, what strategy did they/you applied to come back in the team?
“I had no idea what I could have done if anything as such ever happened”
9.Do you think global racism is getting better or worse?
“I believe that the global racism scenario is worsening without any chance of improvements. The
mentality of the people and the social structure restricted the scope of change and the clashes are
still growing.”
a. What do you think should be done to improve race issues?
“I believe the mean mindedness of the people must be changed and a broader outlook must be
applied with the view of enhancing the situation”
10. Why in this 21st century still racism is been witnessed? Do you think racism will ever go
way?
“I don’t think people are moving towards improvements. They are least interested on human
rights, maybe I am biased, but what I believe is that the world is moving towards a third world
war!”

 Interviewer: Y Interviewee: Athlete 4
(International Boxer) Date conducted: June
8th, 2019 Method: In person interview
1. Background information: How long have you been in sports sector and at what level?
The player have been playing since the age of 10 years and have taken part in different
competitive sports events
a. Have you ever experienced racism in sports carrier? If yes, how did you overcome?
“No, I did not face any racism based events in my entire sports carrier”
b. If a child asks you what is racism? How will you explain racism to him/her?
The athlete stated, “I would like to tell the child that racism is a way of identifying the white
population over the blacks based on skin color.” The athlete being a White considered racism as,
“the way o proclaiming the supremacy of the whites over the other population of blacks”.
2.When you hear the term “racism”. What comes to your mind?
“I believe that the word suggested crippled and poor people that are deprived of their positions
due to the supremacy of the whites and it has been running throughout the history.”
a. What you know about the terms:
i)White supremacy: “I believe that it is a way of expressing our supremacy over any other
races!”
ii) Anti-blackness: “I believe it is a way of making the blacks identify their position in the
society and thereby develop the opportunities for the whites’ community”.
3.. If you have ever passed through the phase of racism how did it triggered your
psychological level?
“I did not face any racism based events in my career.”