Ethnic Minorities
What is racism?

Racism is the suggestion that one
particular ethnic group is more superior
than another on the basis of skin colour or
religion.

A different form of racism is racial
stereotyping. This is whereby individuals
are categorised into what they are/are not
good at according to religion or skin colour.
○ E.g. The notion that all black people are good at
sprinting.
Racial Discrimination - is it a Factor in modern
Sport?





National teams in Athletics, Soccer have a high
proportion of black Afro-Caribbean participants.
Other sports like Rugby Union and League and
Cricket have fewer but significant numbers.
But these same sports have far fewer persons of
Asian backgrounds, particularly women.
Hockey, Swimming, Equestrianism, Rowing have
relatively few black participants.
This pattern probably reflects the class
discrimination - lack of opportunity because of the
expense of the sport, or its traditional class base.
Racial Discrimination - is it a Factor in modern
Sport?

However, many parts of our modern society are
afflicted with institutional racism.

This is not necessarily a conscious discrimination
against non-white people, but more a feeling by
white people that certain situations and activities
are based around white people.

It is therefore a tradition that white people
undertake these activities and exclude non-whites.

Certain people also treat black people very
stereotypically - this is also institutional racism.
What has happened in sport as a result of
racism and racial stereotyping?
‘Stacking’
Whereby ethnic groups
are pushed into certain
positions or sports due
to opinions regarding
physical strength/skills.
E.g. Black men and
sprinting.
There are very few
ethnic minority coaches
or managers.
Reduced participation –
this is particularly the case with
Female ethnic minority groups.
Why have these issues arisen?

There are several reasons which answer
this question.

Perhaps the most apparent reason is the
lack of role models for ethnic minorities in
specific sports.

For example, is the abundance of black
track athletes a result of the large number
of role models in this sport?

Equally, there is a severe lack of Asian
athletes within Premiership football.
How do role models have an impact on
participation?

Individuals tend to copy the behaviour of people in the media
spotlight.
Equally, youngster aspire to be like their
idols. Hence, young Asian boys may wish to
emulate Naseem Hamed (boxing) and
young black girls may wish to grow up like
Kelly Holmes (athletics) or one of the
Williams sisters (tennis).
Black Representation





There is only one black referee, Uriah Rennie, in the
Premier League. There is understood to be only one other
black referee still on the referee's register in the Football
League out of a total of 73 referees
More than 30% of all professional footballers are black
and five members of the Professional Footballers
Association (PFA) Premier League team of the year last
season were black
Sheffield United's Jason Rockett is the only black chief
executive, and Millwall's Heather Rabbatts is the only
black executive chairperson in the professional game.
In the dugout Paul Ince (Notts County) and Chris
Houghton (Newcastle) are the only black managers in 92
league clubs.
Elsewhere Lord Ouseley is the first and only black
member of the FA Council
Asian Representation
There are only seven British Asian players
in professional football and a Commission
for Racial Equality (CRE) survey into
professional football in 2004 revealed that
in total there were only 10 Asian players at
Premier League club academies.
 Only 2 Asian Football League referee’s.
 Chelsea’s Search for an Asian Star project
will offer young footballers of Asian descent
the opportunity to earn a place in the club’s
academy system.

Are ethnic minorities actually excluded
from any sports?

By law, it is illegal to prevent any individual from
joining any club, society or team on the basis of
skin colour or religion.
However, it is perhaps fair to say that very often
ethnic minority groups fit into the lower
economic status.
 A low disposable income usually prevents
individuals from participating in certain sports.

Has racial stereotyping affected the experiences of
ethnic minorities in school sport?

In the past, some schools have been accused of
perpetuating racial stereotypes by encouraging young
black students to develop their sporting talents –
sometimes to the detriment of their academic studies.

This resulted in a ‘vicious circle’ scenario for black
athletes, as should these young black athletes fail in a
sporting career, they had little education to fail back on.

However, in more recent years schools are under
obligation to provide equal opportunities to all students
in both academic and sporting areas.
To what extent has stereotyping affected
participation levels in sport?

There is a myth that black people are superior athletes over
white people.

This myth is further reinforced by the fact that whilst the black
population in Britain is around 6%, over half of the British
athletics team is black.

These figures are reproduced within both football and cricket
teams.

Equally, many athletic track records are held by athletes of
West or East African descent.

In the States, this trend continues into American football and
basketball.
Why are black athletes so massively
represented in athletics?

Some individuals argue that black individuals have a
different genetic make-up to white athletes, making
them faster and stronger.

i.e. they have more fast twitch fibres, meaning they can
run faster.

However, scientific research has found no conclusive
evidence to support this.

Equally, other speed events such as swimming are
largely populated by white individuals. Thus, it is more
likely to be the presence of role models which motivates
black youngsters to become track athletes.
Are there any other reasons why there
are so many black athletes?

It has been suggested that sports may be a way
of escaping poverty for many black athletes.

This is probably especially true in America
where the majority of sports are professional
and offer huge cash sums should individuals
reach the big leagues.

Perhaps boxing and football are two prominent
sports in this category in the UK.
Are the participation figures true for both
sexes?

There tends to be less women participating in
sport – regardless of race or religion.

BUT, these figures become far more drastic
when talking about Muslim women.

This is perhaps mostly due to clothing
restrictions and lack of role models.

This topic is more widely discussed in the
‘Women in Sport’ section.
Kick Racism out of Football
Recent events in football games
have ensured this schemes success.
The edition of the black & white wrist
bands has also highlighted this
particular issue.
PESSCL Strategy
Living for Sport Initiative
Nike Girls Into Sport Project
Whilst these initiatives are not
directly aimed at ethnic minorities,
they are aimed at improving sport
access for disaffected groups.
Sporting Equals
‘Working Together for
Racial Equality in Sport’
This is an organisation which
aims to help integrate ethnic
minorities into sport.
Is there anything else aimed at improving
ethnic minority participation in sports?

Media coverage of ethnic minority sports is
improving

Equally, companies are using athletes of
ethnic origin to promote products and sports.

More ethnic minority individuals are also
being appointed into managerial/sport
development jobs.
Stereotyping, centrality and self-fulfilling
prophecies

Individual groups tend to meet ‘walls’ to their
participation, due to the views and opinions
of other members of society.

Categories which fall into this type of
discrimination tend to include:
○ Women
○ Socio-economic groups
○ Ethnic minorities
Success in sport for specific groups

There is an historical belief that Afro-Caribbean
individuals are good at sport and are not
academically inclined.

Thus, this particular group tends to succeed in
sport more than any where else.

This is called a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In other words, many people within this
particular group have taken an historical belief
to heart and thus focused more strongly on
sport than anything else.
Reasons & effects of Afro-Caribbeans
becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy in sport
Not expected to
succeed academically
Many role models to
aspire to
Directed into certain sports
by teachers/coaches
Few Afro-Caribbeans in
managerial/admin roles
Selected by coaches/
managers for certain
positions (known
as STACKING)
Have the Americans managed to eradicate
black athlete stereotyping?

There is still massive stacking in certain sports
(athletics, basketball).

Equally, whilst black athletes dominate a large
variety of positions on the American Football
field, very few achieve quarterback positions.

This is known as centrality, whereby dominant,
white males control central and/or decisionmaking positions within sports.
Homework



Kick it out is an organisation working for equality in
football: www.kickitout.org
What are their main aims and objectives?
What are they doing for people in:
 schools?
 The community



Asians are particularly under-represented in football
– name ways they are trying to improve this
situation.
What is ‘The Equality Standard’?
Many professional players support this organisation:
 what are they doing to promote equality?
 Are they doing enough?
 What else could they do?