Kwabena, my take on the matter is understandingly colored by the fact that I have been watching the Olympics (other sporting events) almost exclusively on American television, with American commentators mediating the events for me. I know exactly what you're talking about, but my sense, over the years, has been that American sports commentators are probably the most nationalistic of all--yes, even more than annoying hype-crazed British soccer commentators. My experience has been that in events where Americans are going up against other countries, you'd be naive to expect neutral commentary from the American commentators because you'll never get it. As if reading from a script, they often exaggerate the efforts of the Americans, diminish their opponents (or find excuses for why they're doing better), and make excuses for their compatriots' struggles. American commentators are a lot more neutral when there is no American participating in the event. In such situations they can stand aside and pretend to be fence-sitting professionals, except perhaps when they transfer their allegiance, as they sometimes do, to British, Canadian, Australian, or German athletes. I ain't mad at that; we have our nationalist biases that intrude, sometimes subconsciously, on our craft. Over the years I have decided to sometimes ignore the commentary and enjoy the game. It aint easy because sometimes you have to wonder if you're watching the same game or event that the commentators are describing. Anyway.....
On the question of whether race is a factor in this, I would say it is more complicated than that. The same American commentators, most of them white, display the same biases in their commentary whether the American athlete is white, black, or brown. That said, when it is an intra-American affair, you may catch a whiff of the type of subtle racial digs you referenced. In college or NFL football, you'll hear the commentators slyly repeat and reinforce the stereotype of the brute black linebacker vs the brainy, skillful white quarterback. So, I am not sure it's only African athletes that suffer the commentators' stereotyping and diminishing of black ability and achievement. In soccer, the commentators, when African teams are playing, simply lazily regurgitate the meme of African players being "'physical," which is code for brutish,and skill-less as opposed to "technical" Euro-American and Asian players--"technical" being of course code for skillful and entertaining. Sometimes it seems as though they're saying it on cue for the consumption of the majority of their Western audience who believe in the various variants of the myth of the physically gifted but creatively challenged African. You watch the game and see the African teams or players displaying as much if not more skill as their European opponents or teammates and you see no basis for the "physical" observation in the commentary except learned racial stereotype. So, yes, what you have observed here is an enduring theme in sports commentary.
Another stereotype I often encounter in soccer commentaries on matches involving African teams is the oft-repeated comment that they are undisciplined and prone to lapses of concentration. As those of us who teach know, stereotypes are exaggerated and caricature versions of some reality. Most stereotypes are rooted in some objective or perceived truth. This is one stereotype that, in my opinion, is almost entirely accurate, and, without justifying the words of racially biased commentators, I suspect that the perennial problem of discipline in many African teams playing on the global stage fuels some of the biased commentary on African teams. I mean, how many times have you seen African teams losing games not because they were outplayed but because of some moments of madness, a needless infraction, a momentary dip in focus, or a sudden mental breakdown? I get frustrated with African teams, especially when they lose games they have so thoroughly dominated or acquitted themselves well in. Usually, it's a silly mistake, a reckless, red card-worthy offense, a breakdown in team communication or cohesion, or some other bizarre playground mishap that costs them the match. The game, as any other sport, requires full concentration and mental toughness for the full duration of the game. Often, African teams switch off or think they have the game won, only to lose through fluke or gift goals scored by their opponents. Other times, they essentially give the game away, like the Senegalese Olympic team did today against Mexico when they gifted their opponents two cheap goals in extra time after working so hard to tie the match. Why would African teams and countries not invest in the services of sports psychologists or put together a program to instill more discipline and focus in their teams--if that is what they lack?
Finally, are commentators from Africa less biased, or are all sports viewing experiences mediated by flawed commentators with biases, loyalties, and agendas? This question may require an elaborate ethnographic study that someone with the skill to research should take up.
--
There is enough in the world for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed.
---Mohandas Gandhi
-- On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 8:31 AM, Kwabena Akurang-Parry <kaparry@hotmail.com> wrote:
--I screamed Ahh Africans when oh when! I am watching the Olympics Games, a boxing match between an Irish and a Cameroonian, and can't believe the the ways that two white American commentators are praising the Irish boxer, while putting down the Cameroonian, though both boxers are equally matched in pugilistic abilities and styles! When at all will such racist leanings change - are we not in 2012? Similar racist-laden approach informed the commentaries on the soccer match between Senegal and Britain: the former was characterized as brutish beasts out to maul intelligent British players.
Kwabena.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
There is enough in the world for everyone's need but not for everyone's greed.
---Mohandas Gandhi
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
No comments:
Post a Comment