Question 1

Functionalist theorists emphasize the socially constructed nature of race and consider it to be based on inherently racist social assumptions.

Accepted Answer

Functionalist theorists focus on how aspects of society are necessary and functional, including race, but they do not primarily emphasize the socially constructed nature of race or its basis in inherently racist social assumptions. This perspective is more closely associated with conflict theory and symbolic interactionism, which examine power dynamics and the meanings attached to race.

Question 2

The occupational limitations faced by African Americans in American society explain why they are overrepresented in all American sports.

Accepted Answer

African Americans are overrepresented in certain sports like basketball and football, but not in all American sports. Factors contributing to this overrepresentation include socioeconomic conditions, access to sports facilities, and historical context, rather than occupational limitations alone.

Question 3

The Harlem Globetrotters reinforce the "Sambo" stereotype of African Americans.

Accepted Answer

The "Sambo" stereotype refers to the portrayal of African Americans as happy-go-lucky, childlike, and inferior. The Harlem Globetrotters' early performances often included exaggerated movements, silly behavior, and reliance on buffoonery, reinforcing this stereotype. While the team has evolved over time and works to promote positive messages of diversity and inclusivity, the early portrayal of the team did contribute to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.

Question 4

Biological explanations of positional segregation of African Americans in football and baseball are strongly supported by a number of well-designed studies.

Accepted Answer

There is no scientific evidence to support biological explanations for the racial segregation in sports. Social and historical factors have played a major role in shaping the racial makeup of sports teams.

Question 5

The main theme of the section on social mobility through sport for African Americans in your textbook is that sports serve to move large numbers of blacks into higher social class standing.

Accepted Answer

While sports have provided opportunities for some African Americans to achieve success and improve their social standing, it is not accurate to say that sports have served to move large numbers of African Americans into higher social class standings. The impact of sports on social mobility for African Americans is significant for some individuals but does not apply broadly to large numbers.

Question 6

Proportionately, there are just as many African American athletes today in professional individual sports as there are in team sports.

Accepted Answer

African American athletes are disproportionately represented in certain professional team sports, such as basketball and football, compared to individual sports like tennis or golf, where their representation is significantly lower.

Question 7

During the past twenty years, one of the best-documented forms of assignment of players to a position on athletic teams based on ascribed status rather than achieved status is popularly known as "stacking."

Accepted Answer

"Stacking" is a real phenomenon in sports where players are assigned positions based on their perceived ascribed status, such as race or ethnicity, rather than their achieved status or actual abilities. It has been well documented in various sports over the past two decades.

Question 8

The pattern toward desegregation of sport has been primarily motivated by financial profits.

Accepted Answer

Sports organizations and teams have found that desegregating their leagues and rosters can lead to increased revenue, as it allows for a larger and more diverse fan base. Additionally, businesses who sponsor these organizations have also seen financial benefit from supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives. However, it is important to note that there are many other reasons for promoting desegregation in sports, including social justice and equality.

Question 9

The situation in which minority group members are relegated to specific team positions and excluded from competing for others is called centrality.

Accepted Answer

The situation described is known as "stacking," not centrality. Stacking refers to the practice of assigning athletes to positions based on racial or ethnic stereotypes rather than individual abilities or skills.

Question 10

There have been significant positive changes in college and professional sports, and today equality of opportunity is the rule.

Accepted Answer

While there have been improvements in equality of opportunity in college and professional sports, significant disparities still exist based on gender, race, and economic background, indicating that true equality has not yet been achieved.

Question 11

Latinos were excluded from Major League Baseball until after Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947.

Accepted Answer

Latinos were not excluded from Major League Baseball. However, they faced significant barriers and discrimination, including being restricted to segregated leagues and facing language barriers. The breaking of the color line with Jackie Robinson in 1947 did pave the way for increased opportunities and integration for Latino players, but it was not the same level of exclusion that African American players faced.

Question 12

Blacks, compared to Latinos and Asians, have the largest representation in Major League Baseball.

Accepted Answer

Latinos have the largest representation among these groups in Major League Baseball, significantly outnumbering both Blacks and Asians.

Question 13

Latinos participate in sports less proportionately than whites in high school.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that Latinos participate in sports less proportionately than whites in high school. Factors such as financial barriers, lack of access to facilities, and cultural differences are believed to contribute to this disparity.

Question 14

In the National Football League (NFL) the Rooney Rule adopted in 2002 mandated that any team with a head coach opening must employ at least one minority for the job.

Accepted Answer

The Rooney Rule requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching and senior football operation jobs, not employ.

Question 15

With the exception of professional basketball, the corporate and decision-making structure of
professional sports is still about as white as it was before Jackie Robinson entered Major League Baseball in 1947.

Accepted Answer

While progress has been made in increasing diversity in certain areas of professional sports, overall the corporate and decision-making structure remains predominantly white. Professional basketball is often cited as a rare exception, with a higher percentage of black executives and coaches. However, in other sports such as football and baseball, leadership positions are still overwhelmingly held by white individuals.

Question 16

Information on the racial desegregation of sport shows that African Americans

Accepted Answer

African Americans were systematically excluded from racially mixed sport participation until the 1940s, when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. While some progress has been made in desegregating sports, there are still significant disparities and underrepresentation for people of color in certain sports and positions.

Question 17

The desegregation of professional sports for African Americans has been primarily motivated by

Accepted Answer

The desegregation of professional sports for African Americans was mainly motivated by financial profits. Owners and teams began to recognize the talent and potential of black athletes and wanted to capitalize on their abilities to improve team performance and generate more ticket sales and revenue. While federal legislation played a role in eliminating legal barriers to desegregation, financial motivation was the primary driving force behind the integration of professional sports.

Question 18

According to your textbook, existing empirical studies lead to the conclusion that

Accepted Answer

The textbook states that existing empirical studies have not conclusively determined whether physical differences are the sole factor accounting for differences in sport performances between blacks and whites. Therefore, the answer is D - we do not know whether African Americans actually possess physical traits that account for differences in sport performances between blacks and whites.

Question 19

One reason that African American athletes have been more successful in certain sports, such as football and basketball, is that

Accepted Answer

Wide public access to facilities and opportunities to learn and play sports like football and basketball has contributed to the success of African American athletes in these sports.

Question 20

Leadership positions in intercollegiate and professional sports tend to be held by _.

Accepted Answer

According to various studies, leadership positions in intercollegiate and professional sports tend to be held disproportionately by whites, with African Americans being underrepresented in these positions.

Quiz 6: Racialethic Minorities and Sport Main Themes