How are Athletes being dehumanized?
Athletes are oftentimes not viewed as human beings. Some people fail to consider that there is more to athletes than just their jersey number or impressive stats. There are a lot of fans or spectators who only care about the athlete’s performance on their various platforms and view them purely as entertainment. They are often viewed and treated as uneducated and illiterate and not qualified to voice their thoughts and opinions outside of sports. If you can recall, it was not that long ago that the Fox News host told LeBron James to “shut up and dribble.” https://twitter.com/i/status/1268389771820204034
Athletes receive a lot of praise as long as they are performing well during a game but the moment that they make a bad play, make an unfavorable decision, or get injured…they are quickly disregarded, discounted, and oftentimes verbally disrespected. They are put on a pedestal but the moment they fall off by having their relationship and/or personal issues made public, they are attacked on social media and again discounted, and disregarded. The truth of the matter is that few people take the time to consider that athletes are human beings, made of flesh and bones. It is imperative that people come to the realization that these individuals are not superheroes, robots, or machines, they are mere mortals just like you and me. They have good and bad days just like any other human being and they too make mistakes. Your favorite athlete is somebody’s spouse, child, parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, or friend with real-life struggles and pains.
Stereotypes Regarding Black Athlete’s Performance
There is a difference in how America views black male athletes in sports versus how they view them in everyday life. It is highly acceptable and very much appreciated for a black athlete to be aggressive on the basketball court and on the football field or various platforms, however, if they show any type of aggression out of the sports platform they are stereotyped as an angry black man/woman, a thug, and an immediate threat. How many of those spectators cheering them on during a game would also cheer them on in life or invite them into their home for a meal or let them date their children?
Mental Health of Athletes
Some of these individuals are suffering from some of the same mental health and mental illnesses as so many people are. They have fears and insecurities just as any other human being does. Take into consideration that these athletes are under a substantial amount of pressure to perform well and meet the standards that society has placed on them due to their position on their team and/or their social status. They may in fact be under more pressure than others because their social status has them under a microscope and as a result, they are unrealistically held to a higher standard. How dare they have relationship issues and have a public disagreement with their mate…how dare they have a substance abuse disorder and act out of character. A great example of this would be the recent event that occurred regarding Antonio Brown, the NFL player with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where society considered his behavior as a “meltdown” and that he was in need of help. He was the highlight of social media as well on television for several days, where networks were generous enough to replay the clip over and over again. The athlete was judged by his behavior before anyone knew the full story or even his reason for his action or reaction.
We should all take a moment to understand and consider the fact that athletes are not superheroes and that they have feelings and face real-life situations just like every other person. They are expected to perform even when they are having a bad day…even if they are not mentally or physically healthy. They may not be afforded the opportunity to call out from work like most people that work a nine to five…yet they show up and do their very best. We need to give them a break and also cheer them on and lift them up even when they don’t meet the standards of society…even if they don’t hit the winning shot at the buzzer-beater…even if they do not score the winning touch down…even if they do not hit a grand slam…even if they do not win the 100-meter race…even if they have a positive urinalysis…you get the point!!
High school, College, and Professional Athletes are Held to Higher Standards
It is understood that athletes at this level are held to higher standards to make wise decisions and be respectable because they are looked at as role models and because they are part of a team. This is why their unfavorable behaviors and decisions are overemphasized and magnified. Although they are held to a higher standard than everyone else…if they make a mistake should the whole athlete be thrown away…is this the end of their career? Following rules and laws apply to all people regardless of their stature, but a bad decision doesn’t mean you give up on that individual and shut the door in their face forever. There will always be consequences when rules/laws or disobeyed and when bad decisions are made but should that person be persecuted forever?
Please leave a comment and let me know what your thoughts are?
SPWS 