Thursday, April 25, 2013

Kobe Bryant Study Guide (Derek Miller)


By: Derek Miller

1.    Why does Leonard say that it is absurd to believe in ‘colorblind ideology,’ especially in light of some of the dialogues surrounding the allegations against Kobe Bryant?  (It is hard to believe in the colorblind ideology because there are still countless instances of black males being racially categorized in sports.  While a black athlete is a superstar, no one seems to care if he is black, but the second he miss-steps and gets negative publicity the racial criticisms of him surface.  When people say they are “colorblind”, it is almost a bit hypocritical because on one hand they are saying they are not racist, however, in the same statement, they are acknowledging that there is a difference in skin color that they are aware of.  When Kobe Bryant was accused of rape, oh boy, the claws of the general public came out quickly.  Kobe was being bashed left and right, and the fault of the crime was attributed to color of his skin.  The article asks is Kobe is the next MJ or the next OJ.  All three superstars are said to have transcended race.  The term “transcended race” has been used outside of the sports world.  President Clinton was referred to as the first black president, so the notion of colorblind ideology is not just alive in sports, but everywhere around us. However, sports leads the charge when it comes to presenting colorblind ideology) 
2.     Why does sport operate as such a powerful site of disseminating colorblind ideology?  (Sports are a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, and any ideology or way of thinking that is presented in sports will reach a massive audience.  It is no secret that most of the best athletes in sports are black.  As a result, most people cheer for black male athletes.  Cheering for black males is far outside the social norm in all other fields besides sports.  The reason sports are so powerful in disseminating colorblind ideology is because they are perhaps the only form of entertainment that promotes colorblindness in massive amounts to the public.)

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