Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Examination of Sports Fans’ Perception of African American Athletes Portrayed in the Media

This paper explores a possible negative perception of African American athletes through their chosen actions and/or reactions to events in which they are involved due to their specified sport. Outside of the athletes’ actions, there are other proven factors such as: salary differences, under-representation, lack of media coverage, racism, sexism, societal expectations, fewer opportunities beyond sport, and lack of support. These factors associate the perception of the female and male African American athletes together and individually. To test the hypothesis, a repeated measure ANOVA was used to distinguish characteristics of both sets of athletes that could correlate and work individually as well. Within the provided surveys of both athletes, Antonio Brown and Serena Williams, were the same in tested variables, with differences including their sport, league/association, and themselves as athletes. However, according to the findings there was no significant difference identified between pre- and post-survey results.