As the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day approached, ESPN published the results of a recent survey of fans on race in sports. While our society has made huge strides in terms of racial equality over the past quarter century, the survey shows that there’s still a long way to go. The perception of racial equality in white and black fans is vastly different.

It’s also interesting to note that no other races were mentioned. We know other minority fans took part in the survey because we did the math, but their answers weren’t even recognized. Hart Research Associates surveyed 1,822 sports fans (1,213 white, 435 African-American). We’ll assume that the remaining 174 fans were of other not-white-or-black ethnicities. Or someone at ESPN just can’t add.

On complete racial equality:

• 13 percent believes it’s been achieved in all of American society: 6 percent of African-Americans; 15 percent of whites
• 32 percent believes that it’s been achieved reached in sports: 14 percent of African-Americans; 37 percent of whites

On racial equality for African-Americans:

• 82 percent of fans believe it’s been achieved in sports
• 55 percent believe it’s been achieved in the rest of society
• 19 percent give a high rating to the corporate world’s equality for African-Americans
• 73 percent give a high rating to the sports world overall

Do sports unite or divide?

• 72 percent believe sports do more to unite people across racial lines
• Six percent believe sports do more to divide racial lines

African-Americans say blacks have fewer opportunities for positions of power in sports:

• Owner of a pro sports franchise: 71 percent
• Athletic director at a major division-one university: 64 percent
• NFL head coach: 62 percent
• Head coach at a major D-I school: 58 percent

Whites on these same opportunities for African Americans:

• 47 percent believe blacks have fewer opportunities
• 44 percent believe blacks have the same opportunities

On the Rooney Rule, which requires NFL teams to consider minority candidates for senior operating posts and coaching positions:

• 57 percent of African-American fans think the rule will be needed for years to come
• 20 percent of white fans agree
• 32 percent of white fans feel the rule was unnecessary from the start
• Seven percent of black fans agree

On Media bias:

• 57 percent of African-Americans believe the media is biased in their treatment of black athletes
• Seven percent of African-Americans say the treatment has been fair
• Whites suggest that the media had no bias

On admiring athletes:

• Michael Vick: 65 percent of African-Americans; 25 percent of whites
• Ben Roethlisberger: 30 percent of African-Americans; 22 percent of whites
• Terrell Owens: 35 percent of African-Americans; 14 percent of whites
• 67 percent of all fans chose Michael Jordan as the athlete they most admire

On the most popular sport:

• The NFL was easily the most popular sport among all fans
• Whites ranked Major League Baseball second, while African-Americans ranked it fifth

ESPN also anonymously surveyed 100 well-known black athletes. Here are some pertinent results:

• The most important black athletes ever: Jackie Robinson (62.5 percent), Muhammad Ali (57.3), and Michael Jordan (54.2)
• 81 percent believes African-American athletes needs to take a more active role in the black community
• The most color-blind: coaches (53.4 percent), fans (21.8), owners (14.4) and media (10.4)
• Rating the media’s treatment (1 being the kindest; 5 being the worst): Ben Roethlisberger (1.6), Michael Vick (4.8), Roger Clemens (2.3), Plaxico Burress (3.5), Barry Bonds (3.6)

What do you think of the results? Shocked by the difference in perception from white and black fans? Or did this just confirm thoughts you already had? What do you make of the Ben Roethlisberger stat?

—Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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