In Black and White: Race and Sports in America

By Kenneth L. Shropshire

Book Overview

Confronts the pressing problems surrounding race and diversity in the front offices of the American sports industry

From the years of the Negro Leagues in baseball up to today, when college basketball programs entice and then fail to educate young Black men, sports in America have long served as a barometer of the country's racial climate. Just as Black employees are often barred from the upper echelons of corporate America, they are underrepresented in the front offices of the sports industry as well. In this compact volume, Kenneth L. Shropshire confronts prominent racial myths head-on, offering both a history of--and solutions for--the most pressing problems currently plaguing sports.

Despite the fact that Black athletes represent a huge majority of the American sports industry, the majority of ownership stake in professional basketball, baseball, and football teams is still held by white owners. And yet, when confronted with programs intended to diversify their front offices, many teams resort to the familiar refrain of merit-based excuses: there simply aren't enough qualified Black candidates or they don't know how to network. These hollow excuses not only stigmatize and exclude Black employees, but directly contradict the important value Black candidates can bring to these roles. In the insular world of sports, where former players often move up to become coaches, managers, executives, and owners, Black candidates are eminently qualified. After decades of active involvement with their sport, they often bring to the table experiences more relevant to the Black players on their teams. As a central aspect of American life, the sports industry has a responsibility to be a leader in the fight for racial equality--a responsibility that has not yet been met.

In Black and White takes the industry to task, revealing claims of colorblindness and reverse racism as self-serving deflection and scrutinizing professional and collegiate sports, sports agents, and owners alike. No mere critique, however, the volume looks optimistically forward, outlining strategies that will drive the sports industry toward greater racial equality, and help it lead the way for racial justice efforts throughout America.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0814780164
• ISBN13: 9780814780169
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: New York University Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Student Review of race and Sports

In blck and white was a great story on how African Americans are not included in the front office of sports franchises.The book bu Kenneth L. Shrophire also shows how African Americans control the three major sports on the field but not in the front office. In the book Kenneth stats that 99% of all sprots franchise are owned by a white person. The book also stats how white owners have discrimnated against black athletes on the field and in the office. This book is good at showing you how African Americans have struggled in professional sports in all aspects.

Great Book on Sports and Race

The moment I saw this book I was excited and I was even more pleased as I read through the text. Mr. Shropshire has done an outstanding job addressing a touchy topic within our society, sports and race. He brings up the very issues that many African-Americans think but have not expressed while at the same time examines the hardcore issues that are preventing many African-Americans from achieving success beyond the playing field.Mr. Shropshire doesn't just bore you with statistics and examples of past indiscretions, he does a good job at outlining remedies, which may solve many of the problems that African-Americans face within the sports industry.If you have a passion for sports and race relations, this book is for you.