Adolph Reed Jr.

African-American athletes should not be required to speak out on social issues such as racism, argues Adolph Reed Jr. in the following viewpoint. Reed contends that it is racially unjust to expect athletes such as Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan to be politically active when white athletes are allowed to be apolitical. In addition, Reed asserts, this unwarranted expectation parallels the attitudes held by coaches and scouts who believe that African-American athletes should be more physically talented than their white counterparts. Reed is a professor of African- American studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Reed, what was Tiger Woods expected to do after winning the Masters?
2. Why was labeling Jackie Robinson a spokesman unfair, in Reed&rsquo...