Narrative Change Through Sports
As a major cultural pillar, sports serve as a unifier that transcends political, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic barriers.
Preserving the Homefront
A National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) panel pairs the power of athlete storytelling with subject matter expertise to talk about homeownership inequities as we are approaching the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and this year’s Superbowl in New Orleans.
- What is the overall landscape of sports fans nationally?
- Who are their trusted messengers, particularly in sports?
- What sports outlets and delivery mechanisms are sports fans paying most attention to?
- Do fans think sports can have an impact on social issues?
- If sports messengers do want to engage on social issues, when, where, and how should this happen?
- What action will fans take as a result of sports messengers talking about a social issue?
- How does the diversity of players, coaches, owners, and commissioners (and other leaders in sports) impact fan’s openness to talk about race and health?
Sample survey question:
Since the early 1990’s, RWJF has invested significant resources in the impact sports can have on health.
Sports and sports fandom are an integral part of American culture. Sports fans feel camaraderie with one another, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Sports are designed to improve social connections, combat fear and isolation, and offer opportunities for all participants to see themselves as part of a unified group. There’s a sense of belonging people feel by being part of a team’s fan base.
This new phase of work began with one guiding question: Are sports an entry point for conversations on racial justice and health equity? We found that the answer is yes.
Specifically, we learned that sports fans believe sports have had—and will continue to have—an impact on social issues. They feel it is appropriate, given the large platform, for athletes, leagues, and owners to talk about and take steps to reduce interpersonal and structural racism—and some believe that addressing these issues is the right thing to do.
Storytelling
Opinion: I’m a former Olympic swimmer who almost drowned as a child. It’s a preventable danger
"Olympic medals might be for a privileged few, but everyone has a right to cool off and gain potentially life-saving swimming skills," says Cullen Jones, the first Black swimmer to hold a world record.
Champions of Change
RISE activates Champions of Change at sporting events around the country such as the Super Bowl, NCAA Men’s and Women's Final Four, NFL Draft, NASCAR Ally400 Race, and WNBA All Star. Together, RISE and RWJF are partnering on storytelling moments at the intersection of health and racial equity in this fan experience.
Related Content
Game On! Using Sports Culture for Narrative Change
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Sports Award
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Policy Solutions to Advance Park Equity
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Structural Racism and Health
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