Color is a major issue at the center of discussions about American dynamics, because an individual's color can influence his or her experiences in various areas of life, including participation in sport and success. Abdelsamie and Abdallah's article "The Image of African Americans in the Fences" argues that during the 1970s and 1980s, black footballers in America were often subjected to numerous instances of racial abuse. It was not unusual to see bananas thrown at players, a practice that continues to this day in America and continental European countries, with footballers still bearing the brunt of this archaic practice. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The discussion of race is evident in the context of the book "Fences" by August Wilson which shows how major league baseball is used to limit the protagonist's choices, with the name Troy, ability to achieve success or dream American because he was black. Specifically, Wilson writes that although Troy was a talented man, playing in Negro baseball leagues, he had to move from town to town as the only way to achieve success as a black baseball player. This means that Troy experienced economic deprivation due to his exclusion from major league baseball. According to August Wilson, “sport can be used as a tool to drive change and make a huge difference to people's lives by uniting diverse communities, particularly in terms of national success stories.” However, it can also cause conflict and create tension based on race. Wilson chooses to focus on baseball because the sport became a symbol of all that was good in American life: "Fair play, rule of law, equal opportunity, and the brotherhood of man" (Wilson). In Wilson's book, Troy was denied all these good American experiences because he was limited to the Negro baseball leagues. In fact, he almost despaired but reconsidered his goals and decided to continue pursuing his dreams while being observed saying "I've been at first base for eighteen years and I thought...well, damn...keep it up!" Because of the racism he faced in the league, Troy created fences around his life that he believed would keep his family and himself safe, but the reader finds that these fences overwhelm him to some extent. (Abdelsamie and Abdallah). According to the New York Times, "one of the most famous cases of racism in sports includes the racist incident in which Majak Daw, a Sudanese-born AFL player, was abused from beyond the fence." Most observers believe that the act of racism reduces the targeted person to the status of a second-class citizen and prevents communities and individuals from realizing their potential. In our world, achievements in the world of sports are still perceived in racial terms. In fact, success or failure can be explained simply by mentioning the color of a player's skin. Most studies show that the white color of any athlete is rarely taken into account and is mostly invisible to both fans and sports journalists, while “the black or brown skin color of other athletes in the same sport is often cited as a determining factor of individual capacity”. (Wilson). This behavior has long been dismissed as jokes or fans' devotion to their team; the acceptance of racist sentiments as part of sport is indicative of deep-rooted social problems. Major League Baseball was.
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