E. Conclusion
This examination of baseball's lack of African Americans
in top offices displays how various tenets of Critical Race Theory apply to
baseball. First, baseball has been and
currently is controlled by white elites.
Often these white elites allow minority progress only when it also
serves their own needs, such as needing to appear diverse. By purporting progress, racist hiring
practices are masked.
Second, baseball has a socially created image of an
African American's role in baseball.
This stereotype perpetuates that African Americans belong on the field
due to their superior athleticism, but out of front office roles due to their
perceived lack of leadership skills.
Despite evidence to the contrary, these stereotypes are represented in
the abhorrently low number of general managers and owners in Major League
Baseball.
Finally, institutional racism exists in baseball. Although overt racism has slowly faded
through the decades, baseball continues to hire whites, as opposed to African
Americans for front office positions.
White executives simply feel more comfortable hiring other whites into
front office roles, however sometimes hiring of minorities is
necessitated. But similar to
corporations, minorities hired into front office roles in Major League Baseball
frequently possess traits that reduce the likelihood of reducing negative
stereotypes, mentoring junior African Americans, and increasing internal
accountability of racial hiring practices.
Thus, many of the expected, positive "trickle-down" effects of
hiring a minority do not occur.
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