Paw Print Writer: Precious Robinson
Although Black History Month is coming to an end, we should always appreciate and acknowledge their contribution to the world of sports and athletics. To follow the trace of black people and their legacy in America, it is safe to say that along with the trials and tribulations, there has always been black excellence. It should be made clear that Black History Month had originated around the summer of 1915 in Chicago. It had become and officially recognized month of the United States approximately 60 years later in 1976, by President Gerald Ford. Around this same time, there were black athletes trying to showcase their talents in sports; not realizing that they were paving the way for the future generation of black athletes. Despite some of the most inhumane treatment black people have endured and suffered in America, there is no denying their tenacity, persistence, and perseverance to apply their natural strengths and talents in sports.
Some of the most influential black athletes that have made a large impact in sports were met with harsh discrimination and backlash that had to be disputed with fairness and hard work. One well known athlete that did this is Jesse Owens. He was the first athlete to ever win four Olympic gold medals in a single Olympic game in 1936; not receiving an invite to the White House, where only white Olympians were recognized by President Roosevelt. Another is Jackie Robinson, who was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. He also experienced discrimination but made what seemed impossible at the time possible. Unfortunately, racism and discrimination still exist today, especially for the black community, but some athletes that are still inspiring its youth are Lebron James, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Allyson Felix.
On a more analytical note, the genetic makeup and mutations of black people can be included in the sense of unintentionally creating black excellence in sports. By following the ancestry of African Americans, there are many traits and characteristics that black people naturally possess. For instance, the East Africans’ dominance in distance running at the elite level could be explained in the cultural diet for fuel, living at altitude, and having the appropriate muscle fibers. At the opposite end of Africa, West Africans have incredible strength that could be correlated to their farming lifestyle of thousands of years. When African people were brought to the Americas, slave owners would breed slaves for specific jobs. They needed stronger, faster, taller slaves for labor work on plantations so that they could earn more profit. Slave owners did this thinking the situation would stay the same forever, and now we can see the capabilities of black people at elite levels.
The idea of Black people in sports has come a long way. In many sports, we can see more of the black excellence in sports they feel most comfortable and accepted in. Black History Month is a great way to acknowledge the athletic abilities of black people but should also always be celebrated. From the origins stemming from the rich genetics of Africa and following the history of slavery and the civil rights movement, they have made a lens of hope in the world of athletics.
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