The thesis investigates the intersection between society and racism in America during the 20-th century, focusing particularly on black men’s masculinity, physicality and their fights against prejudices. It analyzes how basketball emerged as a cultural phenomenon, tracing its historical origins and spread in urban African American communities, particularly in Philadelphia. The study explores the birth of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the role of American colleges and the importance of the draft night. It discusses how the perception of African American athletes has changed over the years, examining the contexts in which black athletes in the early NBA franchises lived and the racism within the league. Profiles of influential players such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James illustrate the contribution of African Americans to basketball and the fight against racism. Finally, the thesis evaluates the current situation of racism in American basketball and proposes future perspectives for the improvement of social and sporting conditions.

The thesis investigates the intersection between society and racism in America during the 20-th century, focusing particularly on black men’s masculinity, physicality and their fights against prejudices. It analyzes how basketball emerged as a cultural phenomenon, tracing its historical origins and spread in urban African American communities, particularly in Philadelphia. The study explores the birth of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the role of American colleges and the importance of the draft night. It discusses how the perception of African American athletes has changed over the years, examining the contexts in which black athletes in the early NBA franchises lived and the racism within the league. Profiles of influential players such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James illustrate the contribution of African Americans to basketball and the fight against racism. Finally, the thesis evaluates the current situation of racism in American basketball and proposes future perspectives for the improvement of social and sporting conditions.

A Race against Racism: How black masculinity has changed over the last century in the NBA

FURLAN, NICOLÒ
2023/2024

Abstract

The thesis investigates the intersection between society and racism in America during the 20-th century, focusing particularly on black men’s masculinity, physicality and their fights against prejudices. It analyzes how basketball emerged as a cultural phenomenon, tracing its historical origins and spread in urban African American communities, particularly in Philadelphia. The study explores the birth of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the role of American colleges and the importance of the draft night. It discusses how the perception of African American athletes has changed over the years, examining the contexts in which black athletes in the early NBA franchises lived and the racism within the league. Profiles of influential players such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James illustrate the contribution of African Americans to basketball and the fight against racism. Finally, the thesis evaluates the current situation of racism in American basketball and proposes future perspectives for the improvement of social and sporting conditions.
2023
A Race against Racism: How black masculinity has changed over the last century in the NBA
The thesis investigates the intersection between society and racism in America during the 20-th century, focusing particularly on black men’s masculinity, physicality and their fights against prejudices. It analyzes how basketball emerged as a cultural phenomenon, tracing its historical origins and spread in urban African American communities, particularly in Philadelphia. The study explores the birth of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the role of American colleges and the importance of the draft night. It discusses how the perception of African American athletes has changed over the years, examining the contexts in which black athletes in the early NBA franchises lived and the racism within the league. Profiles of influential players such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and LeBron James illustrate the contribution of African Americans to basketball and the fight against racism. Finally, the thesis evaluates the current situation of racism in American basketball and proposes future perspectives for the improvement of social and sporting conditions.
Racism
NBA
Blackness
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/74126