The Black Lives Matter Movement in Sports, 2016-today by Felix Miranda

Black Lives Matter Movement in Sports

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

The Black Lives Matter Movement in sports illustrates how athletes are able to use their voice and status to spark discussions of change in societies views of racial equality and systemic racism. Currently, sports are being used as platforms for athletes to push for political and social change in today's age.

September 1, 2016; the action of kneeling

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

Football player Colin Kapernick began the kneeling movement in protest of racial police brutality. His actions forced fans of the game to hear his message.

2020; The Story of George Floyd

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

The action of kneeling came back in 2020 by another tragedy of racial police brutality. A police officer was recorded using unsanctioned actions to detain an individual of color. Consequently, the individual, George Floyd, died to these police officers who did not provide equal care for the life of another person of color

BLM Activism outside of Sport

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

The public began staging protests soon after. With the support from popular athletes, many people were promoted to take action in their own political and social protests.

Different Forms of Activism in Sports

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

Not only did NFL players take action but other American leagues such as the NBA took a political and social stand. They even found different ways to make their ideas heard, utilizing their cloths and merchandise to advocate against police brutality and demand equality for all.

Media making the BLM movement International

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

With media being tied to sport, the message Colin Kapernick and others promoted through the NFL as a medium gained popularity. Due to various forms of communication via the internet, the idea of using sport as a medium to advocate for political and social change took international recognition.

Activism in Soccer and Foreign Leagues

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

With media reaching different nations, the idea that all athletes can promote change caught on to foreign leagues and sports. Specifically, the Premier League was influenced by the actions of the NFL and followed the idea of kneeling to demonstrate a need for social and political change.

U.S Government's thoughts on the activism shown in sport (video in link)

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

Resulting from Colin Kapernick's resistance, U.S President Donald Trump spoke against his actions. His opinion is sport should remain apolitical and focus solely on the game that is played.

Robert E. Rinehart; Symbolic Resistance and International Response

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

This is not the first time sports have been a platform to advocate for political change/resistance. During the Cold War, the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was greatly influenced by their national water polo team which established symbolic and real political resistance against Soviet Union Policies. As the people of Hungary were determined to become independent in their fight against the Soviet Union, their water polo team represented more than just the game.

As the Hungarian water polo team beat the Soviet Union's water polo team in the Olympics, the win symbolized the idea that Hungary can stand alone. An athlete on the team even stated, "We had a duty to come to Melbourne and tell the world about our wonderful revolution" (Rinehart, 47). The win even provided the Hungarian people aspirations that they could win in their real battle against the Soviet Union (which they did eventually win). Even on an international scale, the game made fans look into the political struggles and understand what they were fighting for.

By looking into this example, it becomes evident that sport can represent more than just a game, and generate a change that can be reflected in society. Sport can not only influence, but demand change. As a result, the actions taken by athletes (both on the Hungarian team and players who kneel today) demonstrates how sport can influence a society.

Activism in Women's Sport

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

Further, women in sports also took part in the stand against police brutality and inequality. This was seen on an international scale during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where women's teams participated in advocating for change.

Richard Gruneau; Sport and Modernity

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-15 17:06:01 UTC

However, research from Gruneau who was taught in class in does not believe politics can be left out of sport. He argues, "the politics of representation are important aspects of the perception of modern sport ‘as its own object’ and of the philosophical/political/moral discourses that linked this cultural object to an ostensibly rational “project” of modernity.” (p. 63)

As Gruneau argues politics of representation are important aspects in modern sport, he supports the idea that activism in sport should be allowed and there is civic consciousness in sport. Because of this, demands for social and political change/resistance do have a place in the world of sport as they are connected.

Therefore, this political movement in modern sport should be accepted as sport can reflect policy and ideas of a society.

Mike O'Mahoney; Sport in the USSR - Physical Culture

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-16 00:37:36 UTC

Sport has even been used to promote societies to make changes to their culture. This has been seen in the USSR when they introduced mass gymnastic parades that was meant for the people of USSR to watch and even participate. The purpose for this was to support an idea Soviet authorities approved of, establishing a culture that focuses on the fitness health of all people. As these spectacles were shown to the masses, it became easy for society to accept the ideals of Fizkultura and find ways to incorporate it in every day life.

Similarly, with the action of kneeling, modern sport was able to influence new ideas onto the masses. As it became more common to see athletes participate in this movement, society began to also take action. By society forming their own protests against racism and police brutality, a culture and social movement was established with the aid of sport.

Works Cited Page

felixmiranda2005 — 2023-12-16 01:14:09 UTC

Cheng, Elizabeth. “The Rise of Advocacy in Social Media.” the Epic. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://lhsepic.com/8233/opinion/the-rise-of-advocacy-in-social-media-2/.

“Donald Trump Blasts NFL Anthem Protesters: ‘Get That Son of a Bitch off the Field.’” The Guardian, September 23, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/22/donald-trump-nfl-national-anthem-protests.

Gruneau, Richard. “Sport and Modernity.” International Sociology 34, no. 2 (2019): 207–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580919831625b.

O’Mahoney, Mike J. “Sport in the USSR: Physical Culture – Visual Culture.” History 93, no. 311 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-229x.2008.431_53.x.

Rinehart, Robert. Robert E. Rinehart, “Cold War Expatriot Sport: Symbolic Resistance and International Response in Hungarian Water Polo at the Melbourne Olympics, 1956” [pp. 45-63] 42, no. 3 (1977). https://doi.org/10.2307/2272874.

Roegiers, Brett. “Not Just a Knee.” CNN. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/09/us/nfl-anthem-protests-cnnphotos/.

Streeter, Kurt. “Kneeling, Fiercely Debated in the N.F.L., Resonates in Protests.” The New York Times, June 5, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/sports/football/george-floyd-kaepernick-kneeling-nfl-protests.html.

TodayShow. “Women Soccer Players Take a Knee in Protest of Racism at Tokyo Olympics.” TODAY.com, July 22, 2021. https://www.today.com/news/megan-rapinoe-alex-morgan-soccer-players-take-knee-protest-tokyo-t226302.