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Do you think that race is an important factor in sports performance?
35% (334 votes)
Yes (Ok, tell us why)
53% (505 votes)
No (Leave a comment below)
12% (119 votes)
I'm not sure (Leave a question below)
Total votes: 958
it dosn't matter the race as long as you can play the sport
i think what color you does not matter
i think it doesn't matter wat color u r becausse u can be or do watever u want to be if u put you'r mind into you'r work it dosen't matter wai color u r because were all equal
well i agree with the person befor but it isnt fair that people judgepeople by the color they r
i agree
your right
I agree with yu
i dont really care
i think that you are right about that it does not matter what color you are. black,white,asian,ect. we still are the same people it doesn't matter what your skin type is or your hair color or anything like that. it doesn't matter about the person on the outside it matters about the person on the inside. i have friends of a differnt color and they're the best thing that has ever happend to me. it just doensn't matter.
this is true and it isnt fair that people judge u on what color u r when they acually dont even know u
race doesn't matter if your talented at what you do
If they are good, it doesn't matter what color they are. People shouldn't blame how they play the sport though, on their race.
That is so true. you shouldn't blame something on their race just because they're good
i agree with you
I say I don't know
you are right
if race doesn't matter why was jim thorp (native american) known as the greatest athlete of all time? Jordan? black. Kobe? black. Lebron james? black... not racist just saying evidence does point to race having something to do with athletisism
Babe Ruth? White. Nolan Ryan? White. Johnny Unitas? White. Brent Favre? White. Larry Bird? White. Wayne Gretzky? White. Arnold Palmer? White.
Go to the Hall of Fame of any major sport, and you'll find superstars of many different races. If a particular race dominates a sport today, or dominated it in the past, it often has more to do with cultural and social factors than physical prowess.
I think that you are right, skin color is not always a determining factor for how good you are at a sport, it has more to do with the culture in which you are raised than the color of your skin.
if most african americans are playing sports, does this mean that they're not as intelligent b/c all they do is play sports? does this mean that other races must compensate in other areas of life or professions? does this mean that african american children think or feel that they don't need an education b/c they can grow up to play sports and live off of that money? what message is this sending???
i think that racism is so stupid it dosent matter to me we shoulden't exclude people because they look different.
It does not matter because it's about performances and not about color.
As a sixth grade basketball player, I was sitting in the stands at a game with my coach waiting to play the following game. We were watching the players on the other teams warming up and my coach commented on the different styles of warm-ups going on between the different teams. One team, predominantly African American, was engaged in layup drills and attempts at dunking; while the other team, predominantly anglo-saxon, was engaged in three point shooting. What this said, to my coach anyway, was that common perceptions about jumping and running as a correlate of race were completely off. It seemed to be completely a social construct, if your whit you practice shooting and if not you practice dunking. I thought this was interesting.
I think race is not inportant because we are all the same on the inside no matter what we look like on the outside.
I agree that race shouldn't matter as long as you can still play the sport and play like a team
i think that every one is created equel
I think people are good the way they are
Overall, I think that athletes are generally the people who have the genetic makeup to allow them to excel in sports. Considering that, genetically, humans are more alike than they are different, I would think that this doesn't have as much to do with race as it does the natural abilities of different humans, and our overwhelming societal focus on athletics and sport. If science fairs were what we watched on TV every weekend, would we even ask this question?
you are right
i think not! it also is important 2 have fun!!!
it dosent matter but dont let the fear of striking out keep u from playing the game
hi,
im cici and i play lots of sports but i dont let the fear of striking out keep me from playing the game!!!!
It has been scientifically proven that african americans have faster twitch muslces in their lower body. Hence, making them able to run faster and jump higher nautrally. Caucasians have slower twitch muscles, which are made better for longer distances when dealing with cardiovascular strength. Example. Have you ever notice during the Olympics, during the sprint races, most if not all of the competitors are black? And, in the distance events, most if not all of the competitors are white? Its how we're made. Now, this doesn't mean a white person cannot be faster than a black person or not be able to jump higher. I ran track in high school and did the 400 and was faster than many of the black runners. It just required a little more training and hard work. Also, take swimming. Black people have a higher bone density than white people. So..... They sink. This is why you hear of black people not being able to swim. They sink easier. However, that does not mean black cannot swim. Many do. It just takes more work. How many black swimmers do you see in the Olympics?
Interesting points.
I've personally noticed that almost everyone who owns and can fly their own airplane is wealthy. Why could that be?
I've come up with a theory that explains it: rich people are naturally better at flying. Their bones are less dense, they have better hand-eye coordination, and they seem to be able to intuit approaching weather systems. Does this mean that a lower or middle income person can't fly? No, but they have to try harder. Heck, if you just dropped me in a pilot's seat, I'd crash right away!
Do I have any scientific research to back up these claims? No. But it's obvious, isn't it? How many middle class people do you see flying their own planes? Almost none. And look at movie stars - they have lots of money, and they can't stop flying around.
thats nonsense. it does matter. if you search an explanation to my answer do some research. I m not rascist but youre explantion is just not to be rascist. and thats bad if you really want to see the fact, youll realize that it matters. so we all have to see the fact even our hearts say no.
i agree. you shouldnt be a certain color just to play the sport that you love.
just go with what you love and not what people think of you. if you dont believe in yourself then you might not want to try out but if you do believe in youslef and you think you can make an efforrt then go for it.
jj Sometimes race does matter because genetically you may be built for that particular activity.also maybe your culture promotes and practices that activity more than others and therefore you are better than other races.
No it doesn't because everybody has a different body and certain people have certain abilities
do you think race matters
yes but we are all the same
lol... ive noticed that....well, im not trying to be racist or anything.... but, it kinda looks like there are more black people that are realy good at like basketball.... really think of 5 super famous basketball players.... i think of somehting like coby bryant, shaq, kevin garnett.... and all of those people are black.... just think about that.... but otherwise, ya i dont think it really matters....
it doesnt matter
and it shouldnt
because the color of your skin
doesn't determine whether u r good
in a sport or not because the skills yu've doesn't come from
ur race. naty
you are right
you are soooooo right
i think people need to stop talking about sports and start bringing up issues of poverty and women's rights...thank you, not men..
yes, Yes, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you kidding me??
Look at Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns, or the MN Gopher Hockey team. Can you name the non-white player(s)? When given equal chance to prove themselves and improve themselves and train themselves, any body can play a sport. What I believe is more determinate of sport or position for that sport is the actual size and strength of a person's body, tall or short.
there is no difference in anyone no matter what they look like
it shouldnt matter what race you are to play a certain sport
If your black you are expected to be good at basketball right? If your white, you should be able to play football good right? And if your italian or mexican you should be playing soccer.
but that isnt ll true, more black people play football that i know and more american (white) people play soccer.
I don't think race is important to how people play sports. I think this because there are many people that are different races that play in the same team and play just as well as the next person
I don't know why some people are so racist. I don't know why people are so rude to each other either.
because it dosent matter we all the same person
its not about race, its about how dedicated u r to the game
I think it is about race actually.
NO!! IT IS NOT!! Race doesn't matter
yes races does matter to me
i think that rasisum is a HUGE problum and it totaly needs to stop everyone should be equil so you are write andd so am I and i am white by the way!
no race does not mtter
it dont matter as long as you got skill because a sport or a game is for fun and it doesnt have to get that deep to involve somebody's race. u feel me?
I think race does not matter because the color of your skin is not what makes you good at a sport or any other activity.
I think that race is unimportant in sports. The color of your skin shouldn't make a difference, you should play sport because you want to.
It doesnt matter about the race it matters if you are good and u have to practice on what u do and a sport u do
it doesnt matter about the race it matters if yyou are good
african americans are born with talent/attributes
It does not matter because every body goes at a different pace &&some people are better at things then others!!
It dosen,t matter what race you are, just if you love to play the sport.
why yes. everyone is born with their own talent. they are good at things, when they are really dedicated to it.
Because of the related social and economic advantages and disadvantages related to race.
i dont belive that your skin color tells anything about how you play, but study's show, that african amarican have a extra musule so they can play better, but not in a bad way
race should not matter if you work hard to be good at your sport
Race is a factor in how good someone is at sports but dedication and working hard and practicing because someone loves the game are all bigger factors then race.
I voted that race does not matter in sports because believing that it is important in sports just adds to the conjecture about our culture. Success in sports is not inherent in one particular race. Instead it is inherent in all the races, it is just up to the individual and whether or not the individual is persistent in sports. Basically, I believe that bringing the race factor into sports is just driving the American Culture farther and farther away from achieving complete integration. I am not saying that we will get to complete integration someday, but I think that we should be striving for it.
oh my god, peoples, race plays absolutely no part in sports unless you're a coach who is extremely racist! It depends on the time and effort you put into your work, the dedication you have toward your sport, the blood , tears and sweat you put into the game. do not let the haters put you down. spread the hope!!!
I think that different cultures are brought-up differently, and this causes a sort of "encapsulation" in certain interests, some of which are sports activities.
This is tottally true. Raciest people should probably not coach because they would tottally discriminate people. Discrimination diffently effects black and white people. So if you are saying white people are better at sports you are way wrong because there are a lot of great black sports people!!!!!!!!!!
Not True!
I do belive that it gives some a genitic advantage i.e. things like larger nostrels with which they can breath more air or larger pores to sweat more and keep there bodies cooler so they can play longer without over heating there are many more examples that I could give but don't have the time and please dont think that if you say that it does that you are a racist we all have evolved to have advantages that are conducive to our surroundings. thanks from your avrage man
I tottally agree with Phaeton. I cannot say it better than him. Total props.
Just because you're skin is a certain color doesn't predispose you to throw a ball better than the guy next to you on the bus
Sport is about sportsmanship and competition, and most important, exercise. It doesn't matter as long as you have good sportsmanship.
i think that race has a lot to do with sports performance...because some races have diferent characteristics...for instance...
you're wrong it doesn't matter your race
no it shouldnt be
race does not matter
Of coarse not!!!!! It shouldn't matter what race you are. All that matters is how good you are at the sport. Nothing else should matter. And if anyone else thinks it does well then I don't like them!
Absolutely NOT!!! That is a stereotype that has been carried on from generation to generation and only the continued education of young people can change this view in the future!
I dont think that it should matter about your race as long as you are good at the sport, if you can play why not go for it. Coaches should not turn you away either, that would be mean and rude. DON'T BE RACIST!!!!! Let others in too!!!
I so agree with you. Race shouldn't control what you do for fun. If coaches turn you down tell someone because you and I and all of us can change the world.
brothers jump higher
i do believe that race does matter in certain sports. in some sports color has a huge effect to for instance picking teams. like in basketball most people pick black people. in hockey they pick the white kid. in soccer they pick the mexican guy. examples like this prove that race has a huge effect in sports
I am not sure but it seems that most popular sports are now being dominated by people of color.
Well, I thought this seemed to be the case as well. However, real data tells us otherwise. To find out more I checked out some studies published by the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northwestern University.
In 2001 they found that only the Men and Women's basketball leagues (WNBA and NBA) have equitable representation of people based on their stated race. Read the article : Study finds opportunities limited in professional, Olympic and college sports.
Hockey is the fourth largest sport in the United States and is quite obviously not dominated by people of color. I think the real racial numbers differences that you see in various sports are more likely the result of cultural forces than some sort of biological predisposition.
It's not about what you are on the outside...it's about who you are on the inside.
it don't matter what color you are
as long as you have a passion for something and a goal to help you achieve it you can do anything
i have been athletic since i was very young and i am a ranked 400m runner in track but when i go to meets people look at me like a white preppy pretty girl and that i cant run so they automatically eliminate me as competition but when they are looking at my butt the whole that is when it is worth it.
because peoples reaction times have been shown to differ based on their race
Well, it does look like there is some evidence to show that this is true but I have also been told that the whole picture on this story is more complex than it appears.
A 1991 study by Richard Lynn seems to show a correlation between different socially defined racial groups and reaction times.
However, I don't think this shows the whole picture. It seems to me that many other factors could be contributing to the correlation here and that race may not be the primary cause. But, I am far from an expert in this complex area. I have asked our Scientist on the Spot, Dr. Joseph L. Graves Jr. to give us his perspective from an evolutionary biology standpoint.
Dear all,
Reaction time
The reaction time studies have been a mainstay in psychometry (testing of intelligence.) Richard Lynn is one of the leading pyschometricians and he adheres to the theory that races exist and that they differ in genetically determined intelligence. Unfortunately, these studies have never been done in a systematic way. What that means is that they have never been conducted on representative samples of the world’s population. Neither have they ever been done in ways that would allow anyone to determine if the reaction time differences that are being measured result from genetic differences or from environmental impacts. All complicated traits, such as intelligence, behavior, or athletic performance are influenced by multiple genes. Therefore they are controlled by the following inputs:
Genetic (genes vary by person)
Environmental (environments vary by person)
Gene x Environment interaction (a person’s genes will be expressed differently in different environments)
Covariance of Genes and Environment (groups may consistently exist in environments that are different).
Error (how well did you measure the trait in question)
Before any genetic claim can be substantiated for a trait, the environmental, gene x environment, covariance, and error terms must be controlled for. In quantitative genetics, we experimentally control these terms by raising the organisms involved in at least two common generations (environments controlled and the same). In this way, any result we see can be presumed to result from genetic differences. Given this experimental requirement, this has never happened for any human quantitative trait. Certainly this has never happened with regard to the human reaction time studies. So, any result they might have achieved can make no claim concerning genetic causation.
I discuss this problem in detail in The Race Myth, in chapters 6 (sports) and 7 (intelligence).
Here is some more information on Dr. Graves' book.
Just to provide a contrast I thought I would quote from this 1987 article from the scientific journal Intelligence. The abstract to the article, Reaction time, race, and racism reads:
I don't think that race is a factor in sport skills. People have noticed that many African American sport players are very common in national sports, but I think that is just a coincidence. All that matters in sports is if you are willing and determined enough to practice and practice so you get good at that certain sport.
well um accually i heard that some races have extra tendents in there legs that help with juming, dancing and some other skills
The Understanding Race website addresses this in its sports quiz. Unfortunately, they do not seem to draw a firm conclusion.
They report that there are two types of muscle fiber: fast-twitch and slow-twitch. And they say "most sprinters possess a greater percentage of fast-twitch muscles, and most of the elite sprinters are of West African descent."
However, they are careful to note that this only applies to world-class runners; it says very little about people in general. Also, since there are great black marathon runners (with lots of slow-twitch muscles) as well as great black sprinters, it would seem that different individuals within a race have different proportions of these fibers.
that isn't true at all
The information comes from the Understanding Race website. The exhibit and the website were carefully researched and reviewed by experts in the field. Of course, the possibility exists that I may have summarized it poorly. If you have information -- or, better yet, a citation -- that says something different, please share. It would be very interesting to read.
yes, because green people are better than blue people
I don't think it matters because as long as they play and have fun thats all that matters.
I think that we are one and whole and caring about other then we do more!
It matters as far as your exposure is concerned. African-American's are most often exposed to basketball and football and by far the most dominant in their predominant culture and socioeconomic class which explains why they are more prevalent in the NBA and NFL. Whites on the other hand are often more exposed to a variety of sports and sometimes basketball and football do not dominate their interaction in sports; thus they are more prevalent in other sports. Hockey is a great exampl, for this state and as a whole. When was the last time you saw a black man or woman for that matter shooting a puck across the ice?
what is race? can you postulate a question regarding athletic ability based on a superficial epidermal trait? i say no. it is totally irrelevant and ambiguous. wurd.
'hockey is a great example, for this state and as a whole when was the last time you saw a black man or woman for that matter shooting a puck across the ice?"
jesus thinks this is a trivial example.
I beileve that to many people think that black guys are good at foot ball and the asian kids are good at soccer that white kids are good at hockey... It all is sterotypes that no one likes to be catogorized in. I believe that you are good at sport becuase you have practiced or that you just simply have the reaction time to play such sports. Race has nothing to do with it. That is simple.
so true like you see most people like that becous alout of black people are good at foot ball ect. ect. ect. but most people just want to follow the norm of liking that sport and if avery body dose that every thing will alwase be the same.
We are all born as a "Body Without Organs". Our potential is infinite. Society, culture and socail conditions defines our possiblities, and our experiences narrow and / or expand them from there on out. Change and define your own experiences will give you control over your own potential. That extends to everything, not just athletics.
Although people are currently arguing against the concept of "race rules sports," which is part of what this exhibit is about, sometimes what people treat you of as your race, as in Europeans, or more specifically, an English man, gives your country and "race" a certain lifestyle that increases or decreases your ability to preform. For example, an African man who hunted for his tribe, was strong, then was sent to the sugar plantations to work for years and develop a strong back might have been a better linebacker in that time than a "white" man who sat around all day bossing that other man around and eating nothing but pork and chicken.
there are very few white running backs in football
I heard that some races have different number of musles in their legs
See my response to Shrika (above) on fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fiber.
It only matters not by genes or race, but the history of how much they trained and/or where they trained
Who cares what race you are when it comes to sports. As long as you can compete at the level you are signing up to compete at, that is all that matters. If I really took race into consideration and started to segregate, I wouldnt have a team of great athletes like I do.
i dont think that race matters its not the color its the talent!
statistics are statistics and they get that way for a reason
I think that race is not important. People should not judge your outward apperance but rather your inward aperance and if you have GOD IN YOUR HEART! Always think of yourself good.
i really don't know because everybody is different and you could be the same race but are not the same atheltic ability
I think it's about skill not color. Example all color people can't play basketball.
race should'nt matter when you are in sports. we should'nt hate ourselves because of who we are. No we should embrace it and love the skin we're in. But do we really care that much about color or race? It only matters on the skill you have in the sport.
We're all the same and we all came from the same place, so i'm not sure why your race would matter. If you play well, then that's all that matters
There are two parts to my answer. Race is important in sports primarily because our social structure has created pathways in which people are segregated based on race. Socially certain sports predominate and are the preferance of varying ethnicities {African American, Basketball, football,etc.} These sports have been divided and have markets in which racial identity is used to promote, support and reinforce these multi-billion dollar conglamorates. Thus we train, educate and support youth to pursue these avenues.
From a genetic standpoint, there are small but significant differences at an elite level. However, I believe that threw training, people of all races can compensate for those genetic differences
I don't think race should matter because we are all different on the inside so why should it matter what is on the outsidei
I don't know why race is such an important thing, and why people of race are treated differently than white people. It's not fair, it's cruel, and it's illegal. So, why do people do it?
Plus, it doesn't really matter what "color" we are because it's what's inside that counts. At least, that's what Jesus looks at. He doesn't really care what you look like on the outside, it's your heart-and where it's at-that matters to Him.
it don't matter what color u r as long as u put u r mind 2 it
it doesn't matter what race you are.you are like everyone else!!!!!
because its not about the color of your skin, its about your atheltic ability....
No matter what race you are, if you try your best you will succeed.
All that matters is how much you love the game!
Race shouldnt matter for anything...we are all here and should be able to live with each other no matter what color or race you are...people shouldnt judge people on their race..
i dont know but dose race really matter
if sports is a big deal you shouldint worry
bout your race & just have fun
I think its good to have many races playing a sport, or on a team. It creates equal opportunities for everyone.
I don't think it should matter what race you are. if you practice enough then you can be better then any one else
i totlly think that you can be good as loing as you try. some people stink at a sport, not because of their race, but because they don't practice
I think its wrong to be against raceis i have a lot of friends that black im not a aganits racis and its mean to be mean to black people
It doesn't matter what race you are. If you practice, you get better, thats the end of it. My best friend is african american, and she kicks my butt at almost every type of sport that i've ever tried, but i am getting a lot better and i finally beat her in basketball for the first time in 8 years!!
It doesn't matter what race you are. I'm white and my best friend is black, but she can kick my butt in almost every sport there ever was. After 8 years of knowing her, i