Sports and Race in Washington, DC Essay -- Essays Papers

Sports and Race in Washington, DCIn 1947, Jackie Robinson stony-broke Major League baseballs color barrier. He went on to become a symbol of positive change in the linked States, an early indicator of the impending civil rights movement. During the 1940s, 50s, and 60s African-Americans were gradually hired into to each one of the major professional sports leagues. In fact, the sports arena was one of the first places where colours were recognised on a national scale. However, not all professional sports aggroups welcomed black athletes with open arms. Unfortunately, segregation in professional sports occurred right here in the District long after Jackie Robinson played his first game for the Dodgers. The case Football Leagues Washington Redskins, who played their home games in the District of Columbia, were alleviate segregated in 1961. Not only were the Redskins still segregated, they were the only police squad in the NFL who had not yet signed a black player. The ow ner of the Redskins, George Preston marshal, was a pompous racist, unwilling to curb his prejudices. Marshalls only concerns were making money and staying loyal to stodgy and intolerant politicians in power at the cadence. Marshall paralleled the governmental institutions of the early 1960s. He conducted business and made money at the expense of African-Americans and ignored their needs, skilful as the government often ignored the needs of African-Americans of Washington. In fact, the Redskins taper audience until the mid-sixties was primarily not Washington, DC, but the in the south. Americas south, like the District of Columbia, had a large African-American population that had been ill-treated for hundreds of years with the institutions of slavery, and segregation. African-Ameri... ... though unintentionally, the move will be in the statement of a constituency they cultivated for a good deal of their existence (Denlinger M4). The constituency that Denlinger is spea king of is the south. For years, Marshall marketed his team to a white southern audience with radio and television contracts. At the time of Marshalls ownership the south was an area of the United States that was home to rampant racism. To George Marshall, the southern audience was pick up it seemed to enjoy the all white Redskins in the 1950s, and supported the team. Building the team a stadium outside of the city would simply bring the team back into the shadow of George Marshall. Marshall catered to a southern audience during his time as owner, just as Cooke wished to cater to suburbanites with his stadium plan. In twain cases, the fan base of the District appears to be ignored.