Brainstorming Sports and Identity

The purpose of this paper is to brainstorm three branches of thoughts related to the topic of sports, positive identity, and black socialization. The first section describes the umbrella thoughts, i.e., the thoughts that contain the overall subject, including the quasi-independent variable. The second section describes the big thoughts and logically explains the relationship between the quasi-independent variable and the research question. The third section describes the little thoughts by defining the quasi-dependent variable from the research question. The fourth section identifies interest thoughts by describing the possible connection between the quasi-independent variable and the quasi-dependent variable. The research question for this paper is: Do children who participate in Black sports teams throughout childhood develop positive identity?

Umbrella Thoughts

The quasi-independent variable is the Black cultural experience of participating on a Black sports team. The dimension from Boykin and Toms (1985) to which this variable is related is the ideals of socialization. Boykin and Toms (1985) define socialization as a process by which children are prepared to assume adult roles and duties. It is a process by which children learn accountability and acceptance of the responsibilities expected of them as they mature. It deals with the dimension of appropriate child rearing. In the Black community, there are various challenges to socialization, including economic conditions, poor schooling and father absenceall of which make it difficult for Black children to receive...

Boykin and Toms (1985) acknowledge that Black family experiences...…identity by giving the participant an ideal or vision to work towards and the tools or technique required to help the participant achieve that vision. For instance, sports are about developing the individual self in a positive way so as to perform as a role player on a team. Sometimes the person may be a leader on the team and sometimes the person may have a more facilitative role. The point is that everyone learns discipline and commitment to the team; everyone learns what it means to sacrifice for the greater good, to work hard, and to improve through practice and diligence. It is a character formation exercise that can be conducted throughout ones adolescence. Theoretically, by committing oneself to a regimen of practice, one shows that one is willing to accept responsibility and to face the challenges that come through competition. Does it work? That is the question. Therefore this research will explore the…