Stunning new book examines blacks' sporting wins and losses
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
might not have imagined eight-digit salaries or Madison Avenue sponsorships
for American black athletes, but the social reformer would likely be
disappointed by other aspects of today's sporting landscape. In his book,
Souled Out? How Blacks Are Winning and Losing in Sports ((C) 2008, Human
Kinetics), author Shaun Powell starts a national dialogue on the changes on
the black sporting scene since Tommie Smith and John Carlos used the 1968
Olympic sports spotlight to enact social change with their legendary black
gloved salute.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080121/AQM062)
Black athletes' behavior warrants examination, according to Powell,
including during MLK and Black History Month observations. "Because of the
high status and media visibility we give athletes, their behavior cuts
deeper and reaches farther," he states. "That's not particularly fair; all
they do is play ball. But such is the celebrity-worshipping world we
created."
Powell commends athletes like Dwyane Wade, Warrick Dunn, Ken Griffey
Jr., Elton Brand, Tiger Woods and tennis' Williams sisters for how they
represent the race in various regards. Simultaneously, Powell cringes at
the examples set by other high-profile black athletes who use the spotlight
for over-the-top celebrations, in-your-face confrontations and even crime.
"These are the images commonly attached to black athletes," he says, "only
because a few are willing to play those roles. When they do, they cultivate
stereotypes. They give ammunition to the bigots and the ignorant."
In addition to Powell's observations from more than twenty-five years
covering sports, Souled Out? includes comments from athletes like Terrell
Owens and Tiger Woods, and the views of noted experts and icons.
While much has changed for African Americans since the 1968 Olympic
salute, Powell regrets that today's black athletes have been homogenized by
millions of dollars and society's conditional love. "He sees no evil, hears
no evil, and therefore suspects no evil," comments Powell. "He's secure
inside the gated suburban compound in which he lives, where there are no
gang issues, rotting neighborhoods, substandard schools and in-your-face
racism."
Ultimately, Powell hopes current and future black athletes recognize
the opportunity sports presents to affect change-and that sports are
equally accessible and rewarding for people of all colors.
For more information on Souled Out?, visit
http://www.SouledOutBook.com.
SOURCE Shaun Powell
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Related links:
http://www.SouledOutBook.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080121/AQM062
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Patty Lehn, +1-217-403-7558,
pattyl@hkusa.com, for Shaun Powell
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