No minority head coaches were hired with 8 openings

[panthers04100]

This guy begs to differ

Not only did Ray Horton not get the HC job, but he was also fired.

He was fired cause he threw a fit when they hired bruce arians

[MHS831]

I agree with your main point but those players genetics do have a huge impact on their dominance and being black is a part of that. So I read "black" in these cases as "genetically gifted" knowing that skin color itself is irrelevant.

I agree, but we are allowed to say what you said, but if we said something that made whites gifted or superior, it would create a different reaction. The NFL is business, and skin color does not come into play-whites and blacks are partners, friends, teammates, brothers, and colleagues. Color is not an issue unless someone looks for a pattern and makes it one. funny how the person who notices that pattern calls everyone else racists. I really think (in my experience) MLK's dream came true. "Character" is WAY more important than pigment. I cannot comprehend a successful business losing (games, money, fans, etc) because they want a white coach. Hey, if I were playing in the NFL, I would die for Mike Tomlin. I hate the Steelers, but I think he is my kind of coach. Never thought about the fact that he is black until this thread. I knew he was black, but never thought about it.

I remember a sermon Reggie White gave where he was trying to make the point that all races contribute to the world to make it great. He was hammered because his examples were interpreted to be stereotypes. The words were wrong but the sentiment was beautiful. Everyone who got stuck on color missed a moment to see what a thoughtful and beautiful man he was,and admire his courage for trying to celebrate our differences.

[Future of the Funchise]

I'd throw a fit too if I got shitted on like did.

[chknwing]

When is this mentality going to change in the NFL.....its 2013 and we still dont give minority coaches a chance....

the mentality will never change as long as you and everyone else refer to them as a "minority"

[carpantherfan84]

Racist as hatred? Or racist as in acknowledging genetic differences? Because I'm fairly certain I don't hate anyone for something that is far and away from something they could control.

Oh man, oh man, oh man. First off I want to start by saying that I dont know you. I, in know way mean to imply that you are a bad person. Personally I think racism is an over used term to describe an ever evolving phenomenon that is race relations in America, that stems from hundreds of years of slavery, hate and genocide.

I am however very interested in the apparently large amount of African Americans in the main three sports (football, baseball, basketball). Being african american myself I have suffered (and I do mean suffered) through these comments from people about the apparent physical superiority of African Americans and the expectations of superior athleticism it would bring. Usually these comments are spoken from well meaning people but they highlight a surprising amount of ignorance in America.

As a top athlete in high school and thereafter in my military career, I have found it hurtful to have my constant hardwork and dedication to physical excellence dismissed as nothing more than a byproduct of my skin color and not a result of my drive and desire.

A casual glance across sports would find a number of Black athletes that is disproportionate to the national population average. What at first glance is a testament to genetic differences is in actuallity a product of the racial tensions in America. During the 60's, when you see the introduction of Black Athletes in America, you are witnessing the result of extreme dedication and perseverance. The first Black Athletes in sports dominated because of the level of difficulty that came with breaking color barriers. They had to be so much better than their White counter parts to even be considered that they blew away the competition when they competed. This was not because they were black, it was because of their superior desire to be great than those Black athletes that didn't make it or than their White counter parts that were not as good.

If you look at history you notice the "color of pro sports" during the 70's and 80's. Looking deeper you find that a surprising amount of these athletes are from extreme low income and poor neighborhoods. People fail to draw the connection between the background of these athletes and their upbringing. Poverty during the 70's and 80's in minority neighborhoods was beyond most people's understanding. With the introduction of crack, aids, random gun violence, police brutality, single parent homes, sub par school systems, racial profiling, and much more it was a constant fight for survival for these young men. It is extremely difficult to escape that cycle of lifestyle and most people regardless of skin color would be swallowed up. Those that did would have to be so dedicated to their pursuits as to dwarf the competition.

During the 90's you see a different trend start to develop that is continuing today. The voice of groups like NWA and such shed light on the "happenings of the ghetto" and while I dont particularly like modern rap music (first sign that you are aging is when you cant get the pop music, lol) I cant help but acknowledge the contribution earlier groups had in educating the public about the inner cities. Because of these groups, the inner cities received an influx of attention during the Clinton Administration. Gun control laws, free clinics, rehab facilities, and most importantly improved education facilities encouraged a new generation of young inner city Blacks to pursue other interests that were not available to their parents in areas outside of sports and entertainment.

Without the pressure cooker of inner city living you see a new mix of races in sports. No longer are the positions that require the most athleticism only filled by Black athletes. Players like Steve Nash of the Lakers first ballet HOFer, or Danny Woodhead of the Patriots are prime examples. Johnny Manziel or even The Golden Calf of Bristol. I could name countless others, All you have to do is look. Athleticism has nothing to do with skin color.

I have heard it all from planned breeding during slavery by the slave masters to a supposed extra muscle in the legs. All this talk is extremely ignorant and hurtful. First off, we are not dogs. You can not create a new race of humans in the amount of generations that lived through slavery. That is just rediculous. In actuality, African Americans are the descendants of several different ethnic groups. Africa is a HUGE continent. Just like in Europe where a Nordic man may be taller than a French man or an Italian will look slightly different than an Irish man, the descendants of slaves exhibit the physcial traits of there ancestors. Granted, certain ethnic groups will have more natural sports talent than others, these lines are not drawn across skin color differences they run much deeper and physical characteristics like height would see a surprising breakdown that would include mixing races from all over the world in order to group like features. And furthermore if you believe that there is some difference under the skin, that would be saying that the different races are not even in the same Family in the Linnaean Taxonomy scale, let alone the same species.

I know this is long winded, but it is from the heart. I hope it is not wasted in this forum, the mods tend to censor certain content. Hopefully the knowledge within will cause people of all races to look at the previous 50+ years in sports with a new appreciation for the hard work of generations past. We should all have immense respect for them but we must approach our current generation with open eyes not colored by past prejugdices.

[Guild]

I'm not quoting that whole thing. Great post, thanks for the humbling information.

[carpantherfan84]

I'm not quoting that whole thing. Great post, thanks for the humbling information.

Thank you for being open minded.

[Hawkfanadam]

I thought this was 2013.... but I could be wrong.

[BigSyke]

:thumbsd: lol and someone has to bring it up.....lol :sleep: (happens every godamn time)

you realize that you are part of the problem....oh i never saw a black tiger....OMG NO where are white panthers :startle: ......dude no one even notices shiit until people like u bring up unecessary stuff that probably going to cause a flame race war on here. :cigar:

at this time of obama being president(which is the most important job) to an arab american owing the jags....i dont hink its as racist as you think it is. yes it still is racism and will always exist :devil: but america has made great strides on that social matter if you could call it that. :thumbsu:

[BigSyke]

"double"

[carpantherfan84]

I hope you guys are watching the Ray Lewis special on ESPN right now. If you dont believe my post, listen to the determination and dedication he felt in order to reach the level he reached in sports.

[Guild]

I hope you guys are watching the Ray Lewis special on ESPN right now. If you dont believe my post, listen to the determination and dedication he felt in order to reach the level he reached in sports.

I started doing some further research after I read your post. It is still ongoing but still very interesting in regards to what you said. I literally had no idea of the scope of the impact of the social forces at work in regards to this topic. Guess that's a sign of my ignorant upbringing.

[megadeth078]

What does it matter that the hired coaches were all white? How does that make it automatically prejudice?

[Goondal]

The fact that only white coaches were hired should not be a problem unless one or more of them were chosen over better candidates simply because of their color. If the teams felt that the white coaches gave them the best chance to win and hired a minority simply to support some quota then that would be unfair to the players and fans of the organization whose desire it is to win.