Race in Sports

4. Entine confuses correlation with _______.

Causation

2. Genetic determinism is the idea that _______ determine complex human traits.

Genes

3. Anthropologists argue that race is a _______ construct, not a biological one.

Social

5. The idea that environment and culture shape human ability is called _______ determinism.

Environmental

6. There are no genetic _______ unique to any one race.

Markers

7. Kerr argues that Kenyan success in running is more connected to _______ and culture than genes.

Environment

8. The media often frames African success in running as a “_______ of whiteness.”

Crisis

10. Kerr concludes that:

A) Social and environmental factors are central to athletic success

B) Racial genetics determine athletic ability, especially with African Americans

C) Race is biologically real

D) Black athletes are innately superior in some sports because of their genetics

A) Social and environmental factors are central to athletic success

9. Which logical fallacy does Entine commit according to Kerr?

A) Circular reasoning

B) Correlation equals causation

C) Appeal to authority

D) Ad hominem

B) Correlation equals causation

8. What is the “crisis of whiteness” in sports?

A) White athletes being genetically disadvantaged compared to Black people

B) A lack of White participation in sports, especially in basketball and football

C) Decline of White interest in sports because of the racial bias against them

D) Media framing African athletic success as a threat to White dominance

D) Media framing African athletic success as a threat to White dominance

7. What does Kerr suggest best explains Kenyan running dominance?

A) High altitude living and cultural emphasis on running

B) Genetic isolation

C) Fast-twitch muscle fiber genes and the lack of lactic acid build up

D) Racial evolution and how the culture shapes how an athlete performs

A) High altitude living and cultural emphasis on running

6. Which of the following statements about genetic variation is true?

A) There are clear genetic boundaries between races

B) Humans show remarkable genetic diversity between groups and you cannot define race simply

C) Human genetic variation is small and continuous across populations

D) Race explains most genetic differences between individuals

C) Human genetic variation is small and continuous across populations

5. Anthropologists generally agree that:

A) Race is a biologically valid concept

B) Some races and/or ethnicities are genetically superior in sports

C) Black and White populations have distinct gene pools

D) Race is a social construct based on physical appearance

D) Race is a social construct based on physical appearance

4. Genetic determinism is defined as:

A) The idea that environment determines behavior

B) The idea that genes fully determine traits and abilities

C) The belief that society and culture shapes genetics

D) The view that environment and genetics are equal

B) The idea that genes fully determine traits and abilities

3. Kerr uses which conceptual frameworks to analyze Entine’s arguments?

A) Political, social, cultural, and economic

B) Genetic, racial, and environmental determinism

C) Psychological, sociocultural and anthropological

D) Structural and cultural functionalism

B) Genetic, racial, and environmental determinism

2. Entine’s central claim in Taboo is that:

A) Environment and training explain athletic success

B) Race is a social construct and there is no definitive “race”

C) Genetic differences between races explain athletic success

D) Culture and sociocultural factors determines performance

C) Genetic differences between races explain athletic success

1. What is the main purpose of Kerr’s article?

A) To summarize Entine’s book and discuss the strengths and weaknesses

B) To argue that genetic differences explain athletic success especially with Black people

C) To disprove claims of racial superiority in sports using scientific evidence

D) To highlight successful African athletes and to put down white athletes

C) To disprove claims of racial superiority in sports using scientific evidence

6. Feminists who believe in working within the system for legislative reform are called ___________ feminists.

Liberal

7. Feminists who believe in creating new institutions and spaces separate from patriarchal systems are called ___________ feminists.

Radical

8. The deliberate emphasis of femininity in masculine domains is known as the ___________.

Feminine apologetic

9. The manipulation of culture so that male ideals become accepted norms is called ___________.

Male hegemony

10. The framework acknowledging overlapping oppressions such as race, class, and gender is known as ___________.

Intersectionality

Grouping based on perceived biological traits.

Race

Shared cultural identity, language, and traditions.

Ethnicity

The domination and exploitation of one group by another.

Colonialism

Applying “survival of the fittest” to justify racial/social hierarchy.

Social Darwinism

Controlling reproduction to promote “desirable” traits.

Eugenics

Generalized belief about a group.

Stereotypes

Value judgment (positive or negative) based on stereotypes.

Prejudice

Action based on prejudice.

Discrimination

Linking athletic ability/intellect to race.

Race logic

Idea that physical superiority comes with intellectual inferiority.

Law of compensation

Assigning sport positions based on race.

Racial stacking

Building alternative structures outside patriarchy.

Radical feminism

The dominant group’s ideas accepted as “common sense.”

Cultural hegemony

Subtle dominance of men’s values as societal norms.

Male hegemony

1. Jon Entine’s controversial book promotes the idea that:
   a) Race has no genetic influence on sport performance and it is all cultural
   b) Black athletic success can be explained by genetic differences
   c) Sport differences are purely cultural
   d) All athletes have equal genetic potential and equal oppertunites

b) Black athletic success can be explained by genetic differences

2. The main criticism of genetic determinism is that it:
   a) Ignores cultural and environmental influences
   b) Supports gender equality and diversity
   c) Encourages diversity in sport without tokenism
   d) Rejects science

2. a) Ignores cultural and environmental influences

3. Discussions of “whiteness” and “white space” in sport often highlight:
   a) The cultural dominance of white norms and control of institutions
   b) The disappearance of racial categories to promote the whiteness bias
   c) Biological superiority of certain races that took over certain categories
   d) Equal representation across all roles

3. a) The cultural dominance of white norms and control of institutions

4. According to Kerr’s critique, Jon Entine’s arguments lack:
   a) Historical understanding and scientific rigor
   b) Public support within the sporting community
   c) Political neutrality and was tainted by political corruption
   d) A focus on coaching rather than focusing on athletes

a) Historical understanding and scientific rigor

Over-representation of certain ethnic groups in specific sports is largely explained by:

a) Biological differences and genetic determinism

b) Socio-cultural and environmental factors

c) Political favoritism within certain communities

d) Luck, access to coaching and coincidence

b) Socio-cultural and environmental factors

6. Which of the following is an example of collective learned helplessness?

a) White athletes believing they cannot compete with Black athletes

b) Athletes striving harder after failure to prove themselves worthy

c) Teams improving through diversity

d) Coaches rewarding effort equally based on work ethic and motivation

a) White athletes believing they cannot compete with Black athletes

7. The Hungry Fighter theory suggests that sport success among Black athletes results from:

a) Genetic predisposition for athleticism

b) Greater motivation due to historical deprivation

c) Cultural stereotypes and cultural attitudes

d) Access to elite facilities and elite coaching

b) Greater motivation due to historical deprivation

8. Which statement about racial stacking is true?

a) It involves assigning athletes to positions based on skill only

b) It places white athletes in physical positions and Black athletes in leadership roles

c) It reproduces racial stereotypes about intelligence and ability

d) It ensures equal opportunity in sport

c) It reproduces racial stereotypes about intelligence and ability

10. The continued dominance of white authority figures in sport organizations contributes to:

a) Diversity and inclusion for gender and race

b) Racial and gender equality

c) Racial stacking and systemic bias

d) Better athletic performance

c) Racial stacking and systemic bias

11. The idea that sport offers respect and status to historically marginalized groups is central to:

a) Social Darwinism theory

b) Hungry Fighter theory

c) Race logic

d) Eugenics

b) Hungry Fighter theory

12. Dennis Rodman’s quote about race in basketball illustrates:

a) The idea that race and genetic determinism doesn’t exist in sport

b) Cultural hegemony

c) Racial equality in basketball amongst black and white players

d) A self-reinforcing belief system among athletes

d) A self-reinforcing belief system among athletes

13. Malcolm Gladwell (2010) described learned helplessness among white athletes as:

a) Confidence gained through effort and recognition

b) The belief that competing with Black athletes is futile

c) A sign of progress in sport and the dismantling of the GSM

d) Motivation for training and development

b) The belief that competing with Black athletes is futile

9. According to Putnam (1999), team owners and managers often hire:

a) Individuals who are different from themselves for diversity

b) More women and minorities to add token people for diversity

c) Candidates who resemble successful or familiar coaches

d) Coaches from opposing teams to distract the players

c) Candidates who resemble successful or familiar coaches

14. Racial stacking is perpetuated by:

a) Media representation and coaching assumptions

b) Random player selection

c) Genetic testing

d) Player union mandates

a) Media representation and coaching assumptions

15. The overall conclusion from Kerr’s paper and lecture is that differences in sport success are best explained by:

a) Biology

b) Racial hierarchy

c) Genetic determinism

d) Social and cultural factors

d) Social and cultural factors

10. Socio-cultural factors such as coaching, environment, and opportunity are more significant than ___________ in explaining athletic success.

Genetics

9. Jon Entine’s “Black Athleticism” arguments were criticized for relying on ___________ rather than empirical evidence.

Stereotypes

8. The continued dominance of white coaches and executives in sport organizations reinforces ___________.

White dominance

7. Social theories like learned helplessness and the Hungry Fighter theory challenge the concept of ___________.

Genetic determinism

6. In sport, ___________ occurs when players are steered into certain positions based on racial stereotypes.

Racial stacking

5. The idea that athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds work harder to gain respect is known as the ___________ theory.

Hunger fighter

4. ___________ describes a situation where a group develops the belief that their efforts are futile due to repeated outcomes.

Collective learned helplessness

3. ___________ refers to the lack of representation of certain racial or ethnic groups in particular sports or leadership roles.

Under-representation

2. Athletes from certain ethnic groups dominating particular sports is known as ___________.

Over-representation

1. The theory that race determines physical ability is called ___________.

Genetic determinism

The belief that genetic makeup solely determines ability or behavior.

Genetic determinism

When one group is present at higher rates than expected in a sport.

Over-representation

When one group is less visible or active than expected in a sport.

Under-representation

Social, cultural, and environmental influences shaping participation and performance.

Socio-cultural factors

Group belief that success is unattainable due to persistent disadvantage.

Collective learned helplessness

Idea that marginalized groups work harder to gain respect denied historically.

Hungry Fighter theory

Placing athletes in roles based on racial stereotypes.

Racial stacking

Linking physical or mental traits to race-based assumptions.

Race logic