What are some feedbacks and comments for each Prompt below?

Prompt #1

There are many barriers in the sports industry that racial minorities have faced over many years. One of these barriers is education. People of color have a higher rate of school dropouts than White Americans. They also do not have many people that continue to higher education (Burton et al., p. 265, 2020). Students in poverty or minority classes tend to have low-quality education. They are also less likely to continue to higher education. This is not only because of the affordability but also because they have less access to college courses offered at the high school level. Schools in high-poverty areas cannot afford to offer some core classes like math and science (Racial Disparities in Education and the Role of Government, 2020).

Another barrier for racial minorities is stereotypes. Stereotypes are certain images or ideas about a particular person. Stereotypes put limitations on people, which are carried through into everything one does. An example of a stereotype about racial minorities in sports is that black athletes rely on athleticism and white athletes rely on intellect and hard work (Kiefer, 2022). Listening to stereotypes they are damaging to society and sports. The media may portray some of these as well as experiences. Listening to these stereotypes impacts people's decisions,s such as hiring certain people for a leadership position in sports. It is important that people pay attention to this and avoid making certain judgments about people when looking for a new position. Replacing stereotypes with positive narratives that are honest will help address the barriers in sports (Kiefer, 2022). Another barrier is diversity. Diversity is hard to reach in some organizations because of the glass ceiling. This does not allow diversity to reach leadership positions (Burton et al., p. 266, 2020).

Prompt #2

One barrier African Americans faced in baseball was becoming a manager. Al Campanis stated that the low number of position managers was because they did not think they could fill the roles of pitcher, catcher, or even quarterback in football (Burton et al. 2020). Frank Robinson, MLB's first black manager, shared some of the behind-the-scenes reasons for not having any black managerial positions in baseball. He said that there is a belief that African Americans are perfectly suitable to play the positions on the field, but when it comes to the brains of the game, they couldn't handle it (Burton, et al., 2020). In the NFL, black coaches were discriminated against in the hiring process. They were being treated unfairly and discriminated against over any little mistake, and they were "the last hired, and the first fired." (Burton et al. 2020). Another barrier that black coaches in the MLB faced was the lack of playing in the MLB. If a black individual wanted to coach in the MLB, they had to have played in the MLB, or they wouldn't even get considered (Burton et al 2020).

One strategy for increasing racial diversity in sport leadership positions was the NFL's Rooney Rule. The Rooney Rule requires every NFL team to interview at least one racial minority candidate when interviewing for a new head coach (Burton, et al 2020). The NFL team must request permission to interview external candidates, which must be monitored by the NFL commissioner to ensure the team is doing the hiring process effectively. Another strategy for increasing racial diversity in sports is the Robinson Rule (Burton, et al, 2020). In 2005, the NCAA created the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to increase representation among women and people of color in collegiate sports (Burton, et al 2020).

Prompt #3

In the sports world, many challenges and obstacles are faced by racial minorities while trying to obtain sports and sport leadership positions. However, three of the most important obstacles include stereotypes, lack of diversity, and an intangible sense of a ceiling in the industry. Throughout the history of sports, we have come to find stereotypes riddled throughout professional leagues stemming back decades. In one of the most prominent cases, the MLB has had a long-term relationship with racism and barriers to people of color. Many were left or not even considered for positions within the leadership or the organization. In an article regarding social justice and the lasting impacts of racism still seen in baseball today, authors Gallegos and Fletcher state that people within the league continue to miss the mark in the struggles faced by many people of color within the league and the fight that had persisted for years led by Jackie Robinson (Fletcher & Gallegos, 2022). Additionally, a second obstacle faced within the sports industry about people of color comes from a lack of diversity within organizations. In most sports leagues, offices tend to lack racial diversity, which has become necessary as our leadership knowledge comes to par. However, many teams fail to implement these ideas, ultimately resulting in challenges for those of color to enter the industry. "For the second consecutive year, colleges and universities in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) scored a B- for racial hiring practices and an Ffor gender hiring practices. Division I FBS schools scored a combined D+, which is the worst of all the racial and gender report cards (including NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, and MLS) published by TIDES" (Lapchick, 2022). From this quote, it is easy to understand by thenumbers why some are discouraged when looking at reports as such. A third and finalracial barrier seen within sports as the "glass ceiling" (Burton et al., 2019). The theory revolves around theidea that many may be unable to elevate their position from where they are now. In an example fromthe National Hockey League, there is only one current blackcoach behind the bench in any of theorganizationsacross the league (Douglas, 2018).