MLK day and tri's

Gullah if you would have titled this thread "---" twenty people would have replied by now.

I see the same as far as participation.  I would also say it is a non-issue.  I am not real sure how to make low budget amatuer races, like 99% of us here compete in, more inclusive.  Maybe it will increase as fast as this sport is growing. 

It seems to me there are sports that culturally some people gravitate to.  Maybe it's the old "hockey" deal.  Black people aren't crazy enough to care I guess :^ ).

I think that the main reasons are economics, as mentioned earlier.  Probably the only thing less diverse than the racial makeup of the tri community would be the economic diversity.

More importantly, I think the above comment deserves POST OF THE DAY!

(not mine...mnewton's)

I think you're right. You know we could try to economize some races but then the worse races are those done "on the cheap". Pretty much the problem golf has as far as the economics of the game.

Yeah, economics and public image of the sport of triathlon are both problems.  Tri's aren't cheap and the amount needed for necessary gear varies widely from $500 at the lowest end to $5000 on the high end.  Plus, few people of color have done well in swimming, cycling, or triathlon, so there are few role models. 

But here's one thing I noticed...black markers don't show on black skin!  I saw two black guys doing a race in NH and at the body marking it was clear that no numbers would show on these guys.  They laughed it off somehow, but I felt bad for them.  To me, it just reinforced the assumption that all athletes would have white or light-colored skin.  And if there'd be a white or bright yellow marker option, these guys would've had no issue at all, but with only black markers available everyone was embarrased:  the athletes, the organizers, and me.

I pointed this out to the organizers at the Boston Triathlon and they said bascially "we never thought of that as an issue, but maybe we should..."  Yes, I think that they should.

-Sunny

I think cheaper races is only a small part of the reason.  (please keep in mind as I'm writing this I'm thinking of economic situations, not any one specific race.)  Kids who are raised, as I was, in a middle class suburb almost always have a bike and at least a community pool to swim in.  I was allowed the luxury of laying around (being a protected kid as opposed to dealing with realities of life that many others have to deal with at that age) watching tv on the weekends and seeing the Ironman once a year.  That's how I first fell in love with the idea of doing a triathlon.  Although it's taken me 30 years to begin to act on that desire I remember it like it was yesterday.  Soccer is so popular in less developed/poorer/large rural area countries in large part because of the minimal expense required to play the sport.  Is there any doubt that at least some of the dominant endurance athletes from "third world" countries aren't into triathlons because they aren't exposed to cycling and swimming as youths? 

Having said all of that, I think a site like BT is one way to promote inclusion because of several reasons.  We welcome people of all abilities and we only hope to help them do their best, not that they perform to a certain level.  For the most part when I read comments and articles about people who do things like backstroke the swim/ride rickety old bikes/walk 90% of the run they are accepted and encouraged for doing what they can.  That will encourage people who can't afford the best equipment or the facilities for "proper" (whatever that is) training.  Also, I think that we socialize with each other through the inspires and forums more than we might in person because we are economically and racially blind for the most part online.  It seems like when race does come up it's in a positive manner.  I've always felt that it's better to acknowledge and celebrate our differences, rather than try to ignore them. 

Don't mean to mac-daddy the thread, bro'.

It's a non-issue..........but I'm sure there is plenty of people here that will make it one.  I haven't seen many Samoans or one-eyed Transvestites doing triathlons either.  How can we make this sport more inclusive for them?  Now that I think about it, BT doesn't have many conservative members.  Maybe Ron needs to look into making this site more Right friendly.  We have soooo far to go.......

By the way, I have seen dark skinned triathletes marked with white numbers. 

Edited by oipolloi 2006-01-16 9:14 AM

I agree with CerveloP3 and Oipolloi,

Race is a non issue. People will play the sports that they want to play. If they really want to do it, they will find a way.

Yes.

"By the way, I have seen dark skinned triathletes marked with white numbers."

Really, that's good.  I haven't seen it yet, but am hopeful that I will in this coming season...

Yes.  I saw this on the National Age Group championships (I think) and another televised race.  They also highited this particular African AG'er athlete who had to overcome enormous odds to train for triathlon.  For many years the swimming pools in South Africa wouldn't allow "black" Africans to swim.  This athlete also couldn't afford a bike so donations were raised to buy him one to compete with.  So this just supports what MadCow said......If a person wants to compete bad enough they will figure out a way.  And I'm sure if asked this athlete would not want anything about the sport changed to accomidate him.

I think it is what it is. Triathlon is not inherently exclusionary. Ther eis a bit of an economic barier, but to make the jump that because it costs a lot that makes it a racial barrier is a stretch. You could also say that it's a barrier to poor college kids, or whit kids living in trailer parks.

It is interesting that white people would even have this conversation. I wonder if there's a newbie basketball forum somewhere and if the board is discussing how to get more white people involed in the game. I just don't think it's in the black person's realm of consciousness to make inherently, or historically black activities more accessable to other racial groups. But white people are all about it. I guess it's guilt.

It's my feeling that as long as a group isn't exclusionary, it just is what it is. If a particular group is interested, good, let's encourage them. BUt if they don't care to e, it shouldn't be forced down their throats.

P3 what's with all the pointed answers? I simply put forth a question. It was neither "lame" as you assert or "mired in Guilt" as you have inferred. It was a simple question that required a simple answer without any associated bs. It was simply a topic linked to, what was for some, a holiday.

But then I could ask, Is your avatar indicative of how you feel about racial issues?