Research Finds That Racial Divisions in Sports Participation Does Not Change for Highly Educated African Americans

A research study by sociology faculty at the University of Houston and the University of Colorado at Denver finds that African Americans who achieve a high level of education do not gravitate to so-called high status sports such as tennis and golf. In fact, the study published in the American Sociological Association’s Journal of Health and Social Behavior, finds that black professionals are less likely than blacks with lower levels of education to play tennis or golf. The study examined the recreational habits of 17,455 adults between the ages of 25 to 60. The results showed that blacks of all education levels were more likely to participate in team sports such as football and basketball or in personal fitness activities such as weightlifting or running.

Copyright © 2011. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.