Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/04 01:47I think the reason there are not more black bicycle racers in Europe is because of genetics. For example, we have been told by many experts that "White Men Can't Jump and Black Men Can't Swim."
Recently, according to Dusty Baker we have discovered "Black's skin color is more conducive to heat than it is for lighter skin people." Baker said. "You don't see brothers running around burnt. Yeah, that's fact. I'm not making this stuff up. Right? You don't see some brothers walking around with white stuff [sun block] on their ears and noses."
It is certainly hard to refute this type of evidence.
Therefore, since there are successful Black bicycle racers in events such as track racing it must be the mountains. Therefore, I suggest that "Black Men Can't Climb." So there you have it, a likely reason there are few black bicycle racers in Europe.
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/04 03:33Excellent reading! "Hearts of Lions: The Story of American Bicycle Racing", by Peter Nye and Eric Heiden
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/04 07:50kenyans would make excellent anythings they put their hearts and minds to achieving, with a place to stand and someone to watch their back.
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/04 10:25Oh yeah? Cite your source... my source is none other than Dusty Baker, who is arguably one of the most qualified coaches and athletic supporters in the great sport of baseball. Besides that, he should know because he is black. I suppose in some extreme circumstance like a nuclear blast, a black person may become sunburned, but according to Dusty, it just doesn't happen, e.g. "You don't see brothers running around burnt."
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/04 18:45Despite your information (somewhat inaccurate since the USA was the center for big time bicycle racing though most of the early part of the 20th century) I have to point out that "that was then and this is now".
Blacks are not living in ghettos or being forced out of cycling because of their race.
Generally speaking, to blacks, sports are nothing more than a means to an end - a way out of the lower classes and into the big money. That means that you can expect lower class blacks to be involved in the sports that attract the attention of the lower classes.
You'll note that there simply are very small numbers of black golfers, black tennis players and black cyclists because these are sports less likely to come to the attention of blacks and not because of any physical limitations.
This is changing over time as blacks integrate more thoroughly into American society but it is silly to expect things to happen overnight.
Even though most of us here would welcome more black participation.
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/04 20:49This from pubmed.......
Sun protection behaviors among African Americans.
Hall HI, Rogers JD.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
The anatomic distribution of some skin cancers suggests that sun exposure may be an etiologic factor for skin cancer among African Americans. Yet little is known about sun protection behaviors among African Americans. We analyzed data from the 1992 National Health Interview Survey (N = 1,583) to determine the prevalence of sun protection behaviors and sun sensitivity. About 6% of African Americans reported being extremely sensitive to the sun and severe sunburning, and 9% reported mild burns. Overall, 53% of respondents (47% of men and 57% of women) reported that they were very likely to wear protective clothing, seek shade, or use sunscreen lotion. Women were more likely than men to report seeking shade and using sunscreen. Sun protection behaviors were more frequently reported by those who sunburn more easily and were positively associated with age. Use of sunscreen was positively associated with income and education. Education about sun protection and early detection may help reduce the morbidity and mortality of skin cancer among African Americans.
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/04 21:07I used to have a black motorcycle racer we sponsored and he regularly got sunburned. You just don't notice it on a black man.
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/05 11:39A very entertaining and informative resource for information on this very topic is "Hearts of Lions." You will find that during the early 1900's the Europeans were coming here to race! In the early days, cycling's roots were not so European as you might imagine!
re:Black Men Can't Climb White Man's Sport - 2005/08/05 12:23You trust Dusty's judgement, when he left a real club with potential to join the Cubs who's only raison d'etre is to make Red Sox fans feel there might be a chance in hell? You trust Dusty, when he spends all summer, even those hottest days, hanging out under an overhang in the shade wearing silly longsleeves, longpants and a hat, so that all that sees the light of day are his nose and fingers?
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