Abstract
In this research we employ Q methodology to examine subjective appraisals of President Donald Trump’s public criticisms of mostly African-American NFL players who have “taken a knee” during the pre-game national anthem as a form of protest against the prevalence and prominence of acts of racial injustice, particularly instances of violence by white police in the treatment of non-white suspects. Whether by virtue of presidential persuasion or not, attendance at and television viewing of NFL games was down during the 2017 season, leading owners to ban the practice by team members for the forthcoming season. Critics of Trump have accused the President of race-baiting, targeting highly paid, primarily African-American athletes as “unpatriotic SOB’s” who deserve to be fired for their antics. (Trump has also engaged in similar attacks of well-known NBA stars, including Steph Curry and LeBron James, due to the pair’s refusal to attend White House ceremonies honoring team championships so long as Trump remains in office.) In this study we generate a Q sample on the matter and ask ordinary sports fans of differing political views to use the items to model their viewpoints. The results will permit us to assess the possibility that Trump’s actions vis-a-vis prominent sports figures is as effective means of expressing a sense of collective grievance, thereby serving as a further bond of unity among his primarily white political base
Presenters
James RhoadsProfessor and Chair, School of Social Sciences, Westminster College, Pennsylvania, United States Dennis F Kinsey
Professor, Public Relations, Syracuse University--Newhouse School, New York, United States Dan B Thomas
Professor of Political Science (Emeritus), Social Sciences, Wartburg College
Digital Media
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