"Darwin's Athletes": Sports & Ethnicity

In African American culture sport is highly looked upon. Many people in this culture look at sport as a way out of the "projects", and as a great opportunity to achieve higher education along with their goals and dreams. Sport has a positive impact on the African American culture. Sport for them can keep them out of trouble, and give them class mobility. Sport plays a big role in their culture, and gives their future generations more hope and more opportunities. 
 
However, in Hollywood films this culture tends to support more of the stereotype of African Americans athletes. Hollywood usually portrays these athletes as the under dogs who reach salvation,  they tend to come from  the rough part of town, and when they become successful they become flashy, and spend all their money. This all may have some truth to some situations, but it surely is not the case for all. In Hoop Dreams it does portray some of these aspects. William and Arthur did come from rough parts of towns, and had to over come difficult situations. However, both boys reached some part of their goal, and they ended up achieving a high education because of their sport. 

The Hollywood film, Coach Carter, is some what similar to Hoop Dreams in the aspect of education, and over coming adversity. The basketball team at Richmond High School  was coached by Kent Carter. These boys were from a rough part of town, and struggled just to stay in school. The coach turned this group of boys around with the game of basketball. He showed them how to work hard, and to come together as a team to be successful. This coach also, pushed them to do well in school if they wanted to reach that next level of basketball; which William and Arthur had to do as well. The ending of this movie resulted in them losing the championship game. However, multiple players received scholarships to play in college, just  like William and Arther had. Both movies are true stories ; the Hollywood film in just more dramatic and not in the form of a documentary.

 I do not think that sport is damaging the African American race. I think the race it is portrayed  poorly as any race is at times depending on the situation,but overall I think sport is bringing a lot of opportunity to them. Like I stated before I believe sport has a positive impact on this culture. 

Real Women

This Avis commercial with Gabby Reece is promoting Avis, the rental car system. The commercial starts off with her being viewed as a "professional" working woman. This shows the gender message that both men and women are capable of having  professional careers. This commercial does a great job showing a woman athlete as a strong independent woman, that still looks feminine. The Avis commercial seems to go against the gender roles because Gabby Reece is seen as doing what a man would be doing. She is not participating in stereotypical women gender roles such as, being in the kitchen, or dealing with children. This commercial strictly shows her being a professional women with a career. Also, the gender relations this commercial contains is that men and women are similar in the work force. In the commercial she is dressed professionally, and drives a masculine car (Chevrolet Suburban). However, all this is contradicted at the end of the commercial. It shows Gabby arriving at the beach to teach yoga, and as she gets out she talks about how large the car is that she could change into a "tight little number"in it . This now puts the gender message back to females representing sex symbols to sell something, or to get men interested by using their sex appeal. This could send the wrong message to young girls by showing them that to be successful you have to use your sex appeal. Women can be powerful, and just as successful as men. However,  in order to do so they must be attractive, and use their sex appeal. I don't think society is ever going to allow this to change.

References:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEgkgdQmug8