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Blacks as Key Functionaries a Study of Racial Stratification in Professional Sport

Key functionaries are positions within a social system that are capable of influencing and performing crucial activities (Olsen, 1978, pp. 25-26). As a result of their location, these positions are centers of power and control (Buckley, 1966, pp. 8-18). Some key functionaries control inputs and outputs with outside environments, whereas others serve as channels for the flow of messages among the system's parts. Still others are responsible for directing the flow of system activities. Because each social system must depend on the adequate performance of these positions for its overall operations, key functionaries are capable of wielding considerable power. The scarcity of Blacks in key functionary positions in professional sport is the major concern of this article. Because sport reflects society, it is reasonable that the question of the acceptance of Blacks in these roles is relevant. For example, before 1946, Blacks were denied full participation with Whites in professional baseball, football, and basketball. Today, this barrier has dissipated and is no longer a factor restricting the participation of the Black athlete. Blacks now participate in major sports (i.e., baseball, football, and basketball) in numbers disproportionate to their percentage of the larger population (Edwards, 1973, pp. 213-245; Leonard, 1988, pp. 214-255). However, discriminatory barriers toward Blacks have not been entirely abolished in professional sport. Indeed, new and formidable barriers involving key functionary positions have appeared to replace the old ones. The new