What is True Love - 612 Words

Love; the feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection(Dictionary). Love is indeed a magical force of attraction that takes time to develop and requires much more than just a strong attraction. Knowing this, love at first sight is simply not possible, and this can be proven by a variety of reasons. For one the demands of a human go beyond the matter of appearance. More importantly it is important to know that the power behind true love takes time to form and is impossible to form within a matter of seconds. Furthermore, love goes beyond feelings and takes in account your willingness to take action. Due to the minimal amount of interaction love at first sight is impossible. As a result of the effort and time it takes to form true love, love at first sight is simply impossible. Consequently long lasting relationships are formed by couples who have discovered true love. When a person first sees someone, it is impossible to know if that person really fits who she or he is looking for. Yet, when people get to know each other better they begin to value that person for who he or she truly is. This is proven by Helen Fisher, current blogger at Oprah’s website when he states,†Psychologists say that the more you interact with a person you like (even slightly), the more you come to regard him as good-looking, smart, and similar to you—unless you discover something that breaks the spell. So its wise to hang in for a second meeting. It can take years sometimes for twoShow MoreRelatedWhat Is True Love?1377 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is True Love? Looking at the world today, it can be hard to recognize love. There is anger all over the world ranging from the government to terrorists. America’s news feed is filled with events of hate and devastation. CNN’s top stories include events of bombing and shootings on top of many different acts of hate. A most recent incident on CNN’s top stories list, is the Ohio nightclub shooting that took place on March 26th, killing one (Croft et. al). These reported incidents make it difficultRead MoreWhat Is True Love?1847 Words   |  8 PagesWhat is true love? Is love defined by the college athlete towards his or her sport, or the teenagers to video games, or the love of a mother towards their child? According to Krishna Sechadri, â€Å"Love could be considered as a collection of activities associated with the acquisition and retention of emotions needed to survive and reproduce.† For this reason, humans need love in order to survive. Moreover, love is a feeling r eproduced by the neurotransmitters in our brain; thus, this means that humanRead MoreWhat is the Definition of True Love? Essay1328 Words   |  6 PagesI wanna love you and treat you right; I wanna love you every day and every night: Well be together with a roof right over our heads; Well share the shelter of my single bed; Well share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread. Is this love - is this love - is this love - Is this love that Im feelin?--- Bob Marley. Bob Marley wrote and sang about love just like hundreds of people before him. His idea of true love was sharing with someone in orderRead MoreWhat Are The Examples Of True Love In The Princess Bride737 Words   |  3 PagesThe Princess Bride undermines the cheesy ideals of classic fairytales while celebrating true love? Westley’s reinvention of himself throughout the movie? Is the young boy a spoiled brat? Is life â€Å"unfair†? What are the examples of true l ove in the movie? True love isn’t how it seems, it always has issues and doesn’t go the way you wanted it to all the time. Westley goes from a farm boy to a life saver. He never gives up, and overcomes everything that is in his path. The young boy is spoiled and doesn’tRead MoreWhat Does True Love Really Feel Like?812 Words   |  4 Pagesforgotten what it s like to be treated like a human being. We’ve shaped most of this generation to forget about true emotions. We ask the question â€Å"What does true love really feel like?† We as a society throw the word †Love† around so much, that to some of us that word has just as much meaning as any other word in the dictionary.That word could be also lacking in someone s life. It would’ve been over a year since that person has had that word, that sentence spoken to them â€Å"I love you†. It’sRead MoreA Valediction : Forbidding Mourning1178 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is love? ( An analysis of the messages from A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning ) What is the definition of love? Importantly, what comprises love? One can speculate on what it means to be in love; though, often it takes the actual experience to know. While, there are many theories on what true love is, and how one knows their love is pristine. No one elaborates better on what true love is than John Donne. A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning by John Donne expresses what true love consistsRead MoreRomeo and Juliet, Tragedy or Romance791 Words   |  3 PagesRomance? What determines what a true love story is? Many events in Romeo and Juliet make the audience question whether or not they are truly in love or are just blinded by a false or not true version of a not so deep feeling. Romeo and Juliet is a famous love story but it stands out compared to other love stories. Romeo and Juliet continue to be a true love story to this day. They are married at a young age and differentiate from other love stories, it’s still considered to be true love, though someRead MoreSonnet 116 by William Shakespeare1002 Words   |  4 PagesThere is a constant theme of love found consistently within many forms of literature. The reoccurring theme of love is indicated within two poems, Sonnet 116 written by Shakespeare and Cinderella by Anne Sexton. Love is like a diamond, extremely rare and difficult to find. Shakespeare and Anne Sexton surpassed many other author’s in being able to capture the theme of love in their pieces of literature. Sonnet 116, written by Shakespeare, is one of the most popular love poems to this day. The poemRead MoreMetaphors In Sonnet 116724 Words   |  3 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s â€Å"Sonnet 116† illustrates an image of what true love is and what it  is not. Through the use of imagery, the speaker defines love as unchanging and persevering, but  if it isn’t, then it can’t be considered true love. Although this may be true, the speaker concludes  that if he is wrong and is proven so, then his idea of love is false and no man has ever loved.    The speaker begins by saying, â€Å"Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admitimpediments† (1-2). In these lines, the speakerRead MoreHappiness in True Love After reading â€Å"True Love† I have concluded that Szymborska is trying600 Words   |  3 PagesHappiness in True Love After reading â€Å"True Love† I have concluded that Szymborska is trying promoting true love to the people who don’t believe, by stating the positive aspects to make people live a happier life. In the poem â€Å"True Love† by Wislawa Szymborska, it is obviously talking about true love such as how it happens, and when people are in love or a relationship. She uses a continuous form of sarcasm of people who do believe in true in love, and those who do. This making her a believer, creates

The Cost Of Private Prisons Essay - 818 Words

Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness argument fails to account for the fact that private prisons typically only house healthy inmates. When cost estimates are adjusted to account for this, the results are surprising: Without adjusting for the increased medical costs imposed on state-run prisons, a 2010 Corrections Department study found that daily per inmate costs were cheaper in private prisons, at $57.97 as opposed to $60.66. However, when adjusting for medical costs, the results flipped with daily per inmate costs cheaper in state-run prisons at $48.42 compared with $53.02 in private prisons. Indeed, the Government Accountability Office stated that â€Å"without comparable data, [the Bureau Of Prisons] is not able to evaluate and justify whether confining inmates in private facilities is more cost-effective than other confinement alternatives such as building new BOP facilities.† As discussed below, even assuming arguendo that private prisons are more cost-effective than state and federal-run prisons, this is achieved through cost-cutting measures. As one commentator notes, â€Å"[m]uch of the presumed cost savings of private prisons are achieved through lower staffing costs: private prisons pay their employees less than public prisons.† Cost-cutting can threaten prisoner safety and lead to deplorable prisons conditions.. For example â€Å"[a] private prison in Idaho run by CCA (which operates 3 out of 4 active private prisons in Oklahoma) established a reputation as a â€Å"gladiatorShow MoreRelatedPrivate Prisons1463 Words   |  6 PagesPrivatization of Prisons As state budgets throughout America become tighter because of rising costs, many are looking at private prisons as a way to reduce the cost in detaining inmates. Just like everything else in America there has to be a debate about it. There are those that are for the privatization of prisons and those that are against it. James A. Fagin introduced this topic in his text book CJ2013; he discussed the major selling point of private prisons, and the problems that states areRead MorePrivate Prisons And Public Prisons815 Words   |  4 Pagesis essentially the Enron of the private prison industry, has long touted private prisons as an alternative to government-owned prisons. Indeed, CCA has set forth three reasons justifying the creation of private prisons for federal inmates: †¢ Cost Effectiveness. Private prisons are less expensive to operate and will save the federal government millions of dollars. †¢ Safety. Private prisons are effectively protect inmates’ safety. †¢ Humane Treatment. Private prisons are modern facilities that provideRead MoreThe Use Of Private Prisons For Federal Inmates1604 Words   |  7 PagesPhase Out Use of Private Prisons for Federal Inmates. This was an article title created by Charlie Savage, a Pulitzer Prize winner and correspondent for the New York Times in Washington on August 18, 2016. Savage wrote how the Obama administration would begin to phase out the use of private run prisons to hold inmates. This was ultimately due to the research done on the quality of life for inmates, the safety of inmates and prison employees, and the security of private run prisons. In the articleRead MorePublic Facilities And Private Prisons1116 Words   |  5 Pages Prison is an institution designed to securely to house inmates who have been convicted of crimes. The United States holds the records for having the largest inmate population residing within the walls of the correctional system. The inflation in correction al spending and the largest prison population have impelled lawmakers and the government to look toward the privatization of prisons. Privatization of prisons is the use of private sector or corporation in financing, constructing, andRead MoreDo We Need Private Prisons? Essay1337 Words   |  6 PagesDo we really need private prisons? Prison overcrowding is one of the most burdensome problems plaguing our criminal justice system, but privatization is not the answer. The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013. (Pelaez, 2016).This is a much faster rate than the most state prisons could accommodate in their own facilities. In an effort to manage the rising prison population, many states began contracting with privately operated correctional institutions toRead MorePrivatization of American Prisons1661 Words   |  7 Pagesrunning prisons out of the hands of state and federal authorities and contracting it out to private organizations. Along with the drift to privatization is a plethora of research pertaining to the subject taking many different approaches to analyzing the effectiveness. The majority of research focuses on one of three areas. The first questioning whether or not it is cost effective to make the switch. The second being the ethical problems that can and have ri sen from the privatization of prisons. TheRead MorePrivatization Within The Criminal Justice System Essay1510 Words   |  7 Pagesevery level of the criminal justice system, from incarceration to probation. Many states have turned to private institutions in an attempt shed operating costs, while also increasing effectiveness throughout the criminal justice system. These acts can include anything from providing treatment programs to full blown management of the entire prison system. Overcrowding at prisons and the rising costs associated with them has led many states to turn to some form of privatization within the criminal justiceRead MoreIs Prison Privatization Really a Long Term Fix? Essay1698 Words   |  7 PagesPrison Privatization is a term used for which local, state and federal correction facilities hire companies from the private sector to run prisons and provide prison-related services. Some private companies are contracted only to provide things such as medical care, c ounseling, food services, and maintenance within publicly owned jails and prisons. Today, more and more private companies are being contracted to not only design and build, but also to operate new jails and prisons on both the stateRead MorePrivate Prisons Vs. Federal Prisons1175 Words   |  5 PagesPrivate prisons are supposedly more cost effective than state or federal prisons. Or that is what their representatives say. But regardless of whether they save money or not, are they truly beneficial for our communities? This article hopes to break down some of the myths these private prison corporations have used to push their agenda and discuss how that is far from the case. By doing so, the reader can form his/her own conclusions on how pervasive and detrimental private prisons have become withinRead MoreArticle Critique Of Prison Privatization967 Words   |  4 Pages Article Critiques of Prison Privatization Tammy Martin Liberty University Abstract The following paper will examine two articles pertaining to prison privatization, and the reasons for advocacy for prison privatization, or for the opposition of prison privatization. Three authors write the first article examined the authors are Shaun Genter, Gregory Hooks, and Clayton Mosher. The article is entitled â€Å"Prisons, jobs and privatization: The impact of prisons on employment growth in rural

Current Moral and Social Issues Essay Example For Students

Current Moral and Social Issues Essay Midterm Exam 1. Rousseau identifies perfectibility in addition to pity and self-preservation as characteristic of the human condition and integral to the development of social inequality. Perfectibility is described as mans ability to improve himself and shaped by his environment and accounts for human development. 2. Passion is one type of reason that is missing from the original human constitution and according to Rousseau need is what stimulates passion in mankind and causes man to act and develop. Language is also absent in the original human constitution because it stimulates abstract thought which is a central part of reasoning. 3. The time period consisted of one-man tasks and the activity of amour propre (awareness of oneself in relation to others) and the moment one man need another mans help was when inequality was formed. The creation of metallurgy and agriculture formed divisions within mankind and inequality was formed on the basis of division of property. The project that was produced from this was the Social Contract, which was based on the Right of Conquest. 4. The new state of nature is one with greater inequality as a product of separation from rich to poor, powerful and weak, and master and slave. 5. All natural rights and laws mean nothing if we dont understand the nature of man. We need to take reason out of the equation and think about the basic concepts of pity and self-preservation. 6. Without the system of needs that dominate his life, or the need to dominate others, modern man would not be receptive to the kind of trick played by the rich. Savage man, who is unconcerned by what others think of him, and has only basic needs, cannot be coerced. Modern man has a life filled with a system of needs, and the need to dominate others. Savage man was unconcerned by what others thought of him and had only basic needs. The solution would be a modeled after a medium between modern man and savage man with the understanding of the nature of man 7. The ideas of communitarianism and liberalism are overlapping in some theories of each. Gaus used the idea that ones identity is bound up with a group identity. Many of the rules that govern communitarianism are the same that indivduals use to govern their own life. Many laws are made from the moral rule of human beings which exist from religion which is passed from the environment of the individual. Rawls argues that our selves tend to be defined or constituted by various communal attachments. Rawls expresses the idea that many of the ideas individuals attain are similar if not the same as the ideas of the group. 8. Many issues that pertain to moral decisions apply to the ideas that link liberalism and communitarianism. Issues such as abortion or euthanasia may apply to these ideas. People that are strongly influenced by religion lean towards the ideas of religion, such that abortion and euthanasia are wrong, morally. Although our government is based on the freedom of choice, the majority of our rules/laws are based on the shared identities of the group and individual. .

Racial Stacking in Football Essay Example

Racial Stacking in Football Essay Sport as an institution has seen many of its records and barriers shattered over its countless years of existence. For instance, sport has seen Jackie Robinson break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, and Billie Jean King defeat former champion Bobby Riggs in â€Å"The battle of the sexes†. One barrier that still exists in sports today is racial stacking and stereotyping. The social phenomenon of racial stacking and stereotyping within the institution of sport has profoundly hindered the development and participation of particular races in different dimensions of sport. Racial stacking is a term coined by sociologists which refers to the over or under representation of certain racial group members in particular positions on a sports team (Woodward, 2002). Some instances of racial stacking seen in football include the majority of quarterbacks, centers, and middle linebackers being Caucasian, as well as the majority of defensive backs, running backs, and wide receivers being African American. An explanation as to why racial stacking occurs is the existence of stereotypes in football. A stereotype is an exaggerated generalization of a group that can be both positive and negative. Unfortunately, even in today’s society stereotypes are still prevalent parts of institutions, especially sports. The stereotypes that affect sports can be both positive and negative, and in most cases can be a significant determinant in who excels in their particular sport. In football, African Americans are thought be to be both aggressive and athletic, as Caucasians are viewed as intelligent and hard working individuals. These are some examples of positive stereotypes in football. We will write a custom essay sample on Racial Stacking in Football specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Racial Stacking in Football specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Racial Stacking in Football specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Some negative stereotypes that can relate to football include African Americans being unintelligent and lazy, as well as Asians being too small to play the game. Although stereotypes are not true statements about groups of people, they will not be dropped anytime soon as sport is an institution that is typically reluctant to change. Although it will be difficult, in order to implement change in the future we must first understand where these stereotypes came from and how they impact the institution of sport, in this case football. By analyzing the stereotypes of African Americans, Caucasians and Asians in football, society can look to try and eliminate the close mindedness of those who believe in such labels. To begin with, the race that makes up the majority of football players on all levels including the National Football League (NFL) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is African Americans. In the National Football League, the largest stage for football in the world, during the 2008-2009 season, the African American race made up 67% of the entire league (Lapchick, 2009). During the same year as those statistics were released, African Americans only made up 12. 8% of the entire United States population (Bureau, 2008). So the question remains why African Americans make up such a large percent of the National Football League when they only attribute to nearly 13% of the population. When asked to answer this question the general public may often attribute these findings to stereotypes. For example, the sport of football requires individuals to be both athletic and aggressive, traits in which are commonly associated with African Americans. Although there are justifiable social reasons to explain these statistics, people still want to attribute the success of African Americans in sports to biology. The stereotype is that African Americans carry genes that make them biologically more athletic than other races. This theory dates all the way back to the 1936 Olympics in which Jesse Owens put on the single greatest individual track and field performance ever in sports (Schaap, 2009). Following Owens domination of the field in 1936, questions arose as to how African Americans had become such dominant athletes and where does their athleticism come from. The easiest explanation was that it must reside in their biology rather than their history or culture. Speculations arose as to Owens having an extra bone in his leg, or elongated bones, all of which were proven to be false. Scientist found that biology was not a determinant in an individual’s ability to excel in sports; rather dedication, determination, and training are more influential factors (Dyreson, 2008). One socioligical explanation as to why African Americans excel in athletics is because it is viewed as a way of upward social and financial mobility. Being one of the world’s largest institutions, sports generate billions of dollars in revenue each year. Specifically, the National Football League generates six billion dollars in revenue a year (Sports Industry Overview, 2009). The life of an NFL player is filled with fame, fortune and limitless opportunites, something that the majority of young children dream about. The reason we see more African Americans succeeding in sports is because they have limited resources and opportunities for upward social mobility elsewhere. With the poverty rate among African Americans so high (24. %) they often do not have the resources to excel in education so instead they look to sports as a way of socio-economic advancement (Bureau, Poverty, 2009). Sports sociologist Harry Edwards defines this concept of black youth using sports as a way of social mobility as â€Å"blind faith†. Edwards explains three reasons as to why black families push their children toward sports careers. The fir st of which is because of the long-standing presumption that â€Å"links black athletic superiority with intellectual deficiency† (Edwards, 2000, p. 9). The second being that media often portrays sports as a widely accessible route to social mobility. For instance, it is not uncommon for children to grow up watching ESPN, a television station dedicated to featuring athletes succeeding in their particular sport. The media also plays a major role in the last of the three reasons for this â€Å"blind faith†. Edwards says that the final explanation is that there is a lack of comparably visible black role models outside of the realm of sport (Edwards, 2000). The key words in this last justification are comparably visible. There are plenty of successful black lawyers, doctors, and businessmen and women, yet the media only glorifies the athletes. Hopefully with the election of President Barack Obama, black youth will have a visible black role model to look up to. Another explanation as to why African American families focus on athletics more so than academics is because â€Å"Whether you agree or disagree, Caucasians have been known to obtain jobs based solely on their skin color, with Blacks its just the opposites† (Butler, 2007). Many parents feel that because they are already at a disadvantage in terms of employment, they might as well put their focus towards athletics if their son or daughter has athletic ability. So then why do African American parents push their children towards sports such as football and basketball rather than golf or tennis? For the many African Americans who are living in poverty, affording a football or basketball is much more realistic than signing their child up at a country club or buying a set of clubs. Clearly, socioeconomic status plays a significant role as to why African Americans focus on excelling in athletics such as football and basketball. This brings up a question as to why athletics is typically seen as the way out of poverty for young African Americans rather than academics. The negative stereotypes in football help contribute to why academics and hard work are not typically an option. In football, African Americans are viewed as less intelligent, disciplined, and not as hard working as other races are. So if they are going to be lazy on the field, then it may be unrealistic to assume that they would be able to put in the hard work and determination to succeed academically. When generalized into society, stereotypes such as these are detrimental to the African American race and make it increasingly difficult for the advancement of this entire group. On the other hand, Caucasians make up nearly 80% of the United States population, yet they only account for about 30% of players who play in the National Football League (Tomlinson, 2010). The main reason behind why there is a relatively small percentage of Caucasian football players in the NFL compared to the population is because of stereotypes and values associated with the race. In football, players are expected to be both naturally athletic and aggressive, stereotypes which do not typically describe Caucasians. Furthermore, values associated with Caucasians play a critical role as to why such a minimal amount of Caucasians play in the NFL. For instance, unlike African Americans, Caucasians usually have supplementary opportunities to succeed in life other than athletics. Contrary to the majority of poor African American households, Caucasian households typically stress academics over athletics (Butler, 2007). An explanation to this theory may be that Caucasian families see the few amounts of whites that excel in sports such as basketball and football and feel that they should put their funds towards higher levels of education. In a way, Caucasians look to follow the traditional path of the â€Å"American dream†, which includes going to college and getting a well paying job. In addition, stereotypes such as â€Å"white men can’t jump† and that Caucasians are slow and un-athletic may also factor into why there are less white athletes than there are African American. Caucasians may be shying away from participating in sports such as football and basketball which require such athletic ability and aggressiveness. The struggle of former Stanford University running back Toby Gerhart is a perfect example as to how racial stereotypes affect athletes in football. In the 2009 season Gerhart rushed for 1,871 yards with 27 touchdowns against some of college football’s toughest competition. In addition, Gerhart was runner up to Alabama’s running back Mark Ingram in the closest Heisman vote ever (Silver, 2010). With such mesmerizing stats and credentials one may wonder why Gerhart is not seen as a top prospect in this year’s NFL draft. Many say the answer lies in his skin color, as Toby Gerhart is white. Despite the advice of numerous NFL general managers, Gerhart is entering this year’s NFL draft as a running back. With such large size, (6 feet, 231 pounds) scouts are saying that he will be too slow and unable to break tackles at a professional level. What is so frustrating for Gerhart is that he ran a 4. 50-second 40-yard dash and registered a 38 inch vertical, both which are very impressive for an athlete his size (Silver, 2010). Despite his tremendous outing at the NFL combine he is still being considered a fullback at the NFL level. Michael Silver brought up a great question when he said â€Å"Why was Toby the only running back who had to run under 4. 6 to not be classified as a fullback? Fifteen other guys ran in the 4. 6s at the combine, and nothing was said about them playing fullback† (Silver, 2010, para. 19). The answer is stereotypes. Gerhart is a projected second round pick at the earliest in this year’s draft yet he fits all of the characteristics of a professional running back picked in the first round except for his skin color. One NFL scout said, â€Å"He’ll be a great second-round pick up for somebody, but I guarantee you if he was the exact same guy – but he was black – he’d go in the first round for sure,† (Silver, 2010, para. 8). Despite the barriers that Gerhart already faces in terms of becoming a premier running back in the NFL, his determination and work ethic will look to reverse the traditional operation of the institution. Despite how much stereotypes affect both African Americans and Caucasians in terms of success in football, there is undoubtedly one group that has been most affected by stereotypes. With sport being such a large institution, Asian athletes are hardly seen or heard of here in America, particularly in football. Being one of the largest growing minority groups n the United States one might wonder why there is such a lack of Asians in all levels of football. In the National Football League, African Americans and Caucasians make up nearly 97% of all players. As of the 2008-2009 season, there were only four players of Asian descent in the NFL. The four players being Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward (Korean), Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen (Vietnamese), Giants safety Will Demps (Kore an), and finally Baltimore Ravens Safety Haruki Nakamura (Japanese) (Will, 2009). The lack of Asians in football can be attributed to stereotypes associated with that particular race. Asians are constantly criticized in sports because they are considered too short, not athletic or even because of their facial features. For instance, former NFL quarterback Timmy Chang was criticized by NFL scouts for being too small to play the position. Chang is 6 foot 1, which makes him taller than many NFL quarterbacks. When asked about these height comparison one scout said, â€Å"But he plays short† (Lapchick, 2006a, para. 18). This quote is a reminder how even in today’s society stereotypes can create barriers in the institution of sport. To conclude, despite setting a NCAA record for most career passing yards whiles playing at Hawaii University, Chang went undrafted during the 2006 draft. Another sociological explanation as to why there are such a small number of Asian football players is because of the culture they grow up in. Unlike racial groups such as African Americans and some Caucasians, Asians do not typically look at sports as a way of social mobility. Yun-OhWhang, a professor of sports marketing at the University of Central Florida says â€Å"Asian Americans put huge value on education. Becoming a doctor or lawyer is the ultimate goal of many Asian American kids, which is heavily imposed by their parents† (Lapchick, 2003, para. 3). Whang’s statement is backed up by the fact that according to the 2000 census, Asian families in the United States had the highets average income as well as highest graduation rates for both highschool and college (Lapchick, 2006). For the Asian culture, it is more important to put hard work and dedicaiton into education so one can support their family rather than waste time trying to be one of the few atheletes to make a living in sports. Stereotypes not only affect which sports racial groups excel in or why they excel in those sports, but they have a direct impact on the position members of racial groups typically play. This idea of over or under representation of certain racial groups in a particular position on a sports team is known as racial stacking (Woodward, 2002). In football, especially at the professional level, there are positions on the field that are traditionally played by a particular race. For instance, traditionally the quarterback position is played by a Caucasian. During the 2008-2009 NFL season, out of the 32 starting quarterbacks, 26 (81%) of them were white (Spicer, 2008). Although African Americans make up 67% of the National Football, they only account for 19% of the starting quarterbacks. So why are there so many white quarterbacks starting in the NFL? When this question was posted on a popular Yahoo blog, â€Å"John and Stephanie† responded, â€Å"Because they are the leader. They are the ones who have to make GOOD and quick decisions. They do not dance around acting stupid all day and get thrown in jail for killing dogs. QBs are hard to come across so you have to get a white one and be guaranteed they won’t be put in jail after 3 years† (John Stephanie, 2008, response 5). The authors of this post are basing their response on the play and decisions of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. In 2007, Vick was sentenced to two years of prison on felony dog fighting charges (Werder, 2007). As ridiculous and foolish as this response is, unfortunately many people have a similar view on African Americans playing the quarterback position. The false belief that successful quarterbacks at the professional level are typically Caucasian often prevents other races from even getting the opportunity to combat that stereotype. This stereotype may cause many African American youth to try and play another position in which they see more individuals of their race succeeding (Vance, 2009). This idea even spills over to the collegiate level where some of the greatest African American college quarterbacks convert to positions such as wide receiver and running back. As of the 2008 NFL draft, 96 African American quarterbacks had been drafted. Out of the 96, over one third (33) have been converted to a position other than quarterback (Vance, 2009). For instance, Washington Redskins wide reciever Antwaan Randle El played quarterback at Indiana University where he was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate only to be converted upon his transition to the NFL. More shocking than the amount of African American quarterbacks who get converted to other positions is the few Caucasian quarterbacks that have to do the same. Only 1. 6% of Caucasian quarterbacks who have been drafted have been converted to another position. Vance, 2009). As previously stated, negative stereotypes of African Americans include being unintelligent, lazy, and troublemakers. These stereotypes typically limit the opportunity for many African Americans to play quarterback at a professional level. Traditionally, along with the middle linebacker and center position, the quarterback position has been known as a â€Å"thinking position† which requires much intelligence to play (Woodward, 2002). Unfortunately, intelligence is not a stereotype of African American football players. In a study done by sports blogger Steve Sailer, he plotted offensive and defensive positions in football by average IQ based on the Wonderlic Test. The Wonderlic Test is a general test of problem solving that has been used by the NFL for nearly 30 years to assess NFL draft prospects (Wonderlic Sample Test ,2010). After converting the Wonderlic Test results to an IQ score, Sailer found that those positions that play closest to the ball have the highest IQ. With an exception to defensive lineman, 79% of which are African American, those positions that play closest to the ball are primarily played by Caucasians (Spicer, 2008). Interestingly enough, those positions that play furthest away from the ball are dominated by African American players. For example, 96% of defensive backs, 92% of wide receivers, and 100% running backs who were starters during the 2008-2009 season are African American (Spicer, 2008). Besides intelligence, there are additional stereotypes that help explain why racial stacking occurs in these positions. All of the previous mentioned positions dominated by African Americans have similar requirements to be successful. They all call for speed, athleticism, and aggression, all of which are stereotypes of African American athletes. Not only do racial stereotypes affect the athletes on the field, they have a prominent impact on the league office, owners, and coaching staff. Since 2004, the NFL has been receiving a letter grade for their hiring practices of women and people of color. The Racial Report Card considers the racial and gender make up of players, coaches, and the front office of professional sports organizations. Essentially, it asks, â€Å"Are we playing fair when it comes to sports? Does everyone, regardless of race or gender, have a chance to score a touchdown and operate the business of professional football? † (Lapchick, 2009, p. 2). As of the 1989 season, there had been no African American head coaches or general managers in the history of the NFL (Lapchick, 2006b). Over the past decade the National Football League has been making a concientious effort to address the lack of colored individuals in the organziation. During the past season, the NFL had received its highest grade ever of A- for racial hiring with six out of thirty-two coaches being African American (Lapchick, 2009). Although the NFL has seen an increase in the number of African American coaches and in league offices, there has still yet to be one African American CEO/President. In addition, Amy Trask, of the Oakland Raiders, is the only woman CEO/President in the NFL (Lapchick, 2009). Despite stereotypes such as lack of intelligence that once restricted the opportunities for minorities to interview for head coaching positions, those who have been able to land such positions have shown that skin color is no determinant in success. In the past four seasons there have been four African American head coaches who have led their team to the Super Bowl (Lapchick, 2009). Over the next few decades we can expect the number of African American coaches to increase exponentially due to the â€Å"Rooney Rule†. This NFL policy (Named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney) mandates that at least one person of color must be interviewed for all new head coaching positions. Since being implemented in 2001, this policy has tripled the number of African American head coaches (Lapchick, 2009). To conclude, despite the lingering stereotypes of African Americans, the NFL has seen a steady increase in the number of minorities in both coaching positions and league offices. All in all, the social phenomenon of racial stacking and stereotyping within the institution of sport has profoundly hindered the development and participation of particular races in the sport of football. Although stereotypes such as African Americans being unintelligent or Caucasians being slow have affected the advancement of these races in certain aspects of the game, they are deeply based on false perception. Most races have to face stereotypes throughout their lifetime. Whether positive or negative, these stereotypes have a prominent affect on how one goes about pursuing their goals, particularly in sports. Although stereotypes have hindered the participation of certain races in football, the culture and society in which an individual has grown up in often plays a larger role in determining success. For African Americans raised in poor families, the perspective of making millions of dollars playing in the NFL may be seen as their one opportunity for upward social mobility, while Caucasians and Asians are typically brought up in wealthier families that stress the importance of education as a way of becoming successful. In conclusion, society must realize that whether one is white or black, male or female, poor or rich, they should have an equal opportunity to participate in sports. Due to the nature of the institutions reluctance to change, it is going to take great mental strength, dedication and perseverance in order for society to break down the barriers in sports for good.