Scobel Wiggins Photography

Shortly after President Obama was elected, we were bombarded with interviews and testimonials of African Americans around the country touting the achievement of racial equality and the hope it brought to the next generation.  "Anyone can be President now" we heard.  The underlying premise was clear—people of color can now seek a career in politics (or any other dream) because a person of color became President.

A similar question can be raised within the Ultimate Frisbee community.  Does the presence and participation of people of color in the sport promote or permit others of colors to play, or at the very least, make people of color want to learn about the sport?

While I personally believe that one's actions are not, and should not, dictated by a "color barrier," it would be an error to assume that everyone believes the same.  It's said that for those that need inspiration or guidance, the presence of people of color in a particular career or sport can be particularly reassuring, if not empowering.  Examples of this include the Williams' sisters for tennis and Tiger in golf—minority involvement in their respective sports have increased since their careers began.

While the positive effects of minority role models are constantly touted, there are two inherent dangers at work here.  First, a minority player's image is personified by the color of his/her skin and not his/her skill.  In essence, a minority Frisbee player is the brown player, the Asian player, or the black player instead of just the Frisbee player. Second, minorities are compelled into the position of being the "representative" for his/her race. His/her actions are reflected onto the community as a whole and vice versa—he/she is expected to act on behalf of the minority community.

This sport is growing at an exponential pace. And in doing so it is beginning to reach communities outside of its elite university roots to communities where race continues to play a factor in the daily coming and goings of youth.  Sports do have the potential to be a positive force for racial integration.  The presence of people of color as role models for these youth can act as a means for recruitment to build the base of interest for the next generation of players and leaders.  But how do we recognize the limitations it places as well?  Or more importantly, what, if anything, can be done to fix it?

'Slap' is a star cutter for San Francisco's Fury, and has been churning West-Coast downfields since her days with UCSD.