title: The disgrace of commodification and shameful convenience: a critical race critique of the NBA.
abstract: This essay positions sport as a pedagogical social institution from which people learn about race, gender, power, and privilege. The National Basketball Association is examined closely with a critical race lens with regard to the commodification of Black masculinity. A critical race analysis reveals the sharp contradictions between the league’s progressive image as an “industry leader” of racial diversity (Lapchick, Bustamante, & Ruiz, 2007, p.1) and the actualization of league discourse, policy, and practice.
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
authors.forename: Rachel Alicia
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D056352:Athletes / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D001490:Basketball / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D032821:Commodification; D005783:Gender Identity; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D057228:Masculinity / Q000266:history; D009938:Organizations / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011822:Race Relations / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology