This episode of Law and Order SVU mirrors a sex scandal within the world of sports.The episode begins at a Hall-of-Fame induction ceremony for basketball coach Ray Masters. The ceremony is inducted when a former player of Masters, Stevie interrupts and accuses the coach of not deserving such high recognition because of what he did. The crowd is confused and Stevie is firmly escorted out of the ceremony. The SVU team hires a new detective, nick Amaro, who is assigned to the case. Detective Amaro and Detective Tutuola seek out Stevie to find out what happened with Coach Ray Masters. Stevie explains that Ray Masters sexually abused him and other players when he was younger. The detectives try to proceed with the case but Stevie is powerless against Coach Masters. Although Coach Masters had been accused of the same count of sexual abuse of a player years before, he was found not guilty. At this point, the only evidence that can prove that Coach Masters sexually abused players, is if other players confirm the accusations. For a while, no one will admit that Coach Masters had sexually abused them due to the fact that these players felt guilty because Coach Masters paid their way into success through the coach's charity known as Ray's Boys. The SVU team seeks out a number of players of the Coach, most of whom are black men but none will admit to the accusation. Finally, a famous, successful, African American basketball player, Prince Miller, testifies that Ray Masters had raped him but he did not want to come clean about the incident because Ray Masters helped him succeed. Prince Miller did not want Coach Masters to harm anyone else.
Unfortunately, this case is based on the true story of assistant coach of Penn State, Jerry Sandusky. In 2012, Jerry Sandusky was convicted with 45 to 48 counts of molestation of 10 boys, according to ESPN.com. Others knew about Jerry Sandusky's child molestation including graduate assistant, Mike McQueary, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, Penn State athletic directer Tim Curley, and Penn State senior vice president Gary Schultz (ESPN.com). None of these people in positions of power at Penn State reported the sexual abuse crime and Sandusky's abuse was kept secret. Victims of Jerry Sandusky, including his own adopted son, came forward about Jerry Sandusky, which eventually put him in jail for 30-60 years, perhaps the remainder of Sandusky's life.
Victims of Sandusky most likely kept quiet because of the success he helped them achieve. In Law and Order: SVU many of the victims were lower class and/or African American. The lack of opportunity for black people and poor people will lead them to do whatever it takes to become successful through an avenue such as sports. Due to structural barriers of race and class, many of these men might find themselves unable to go to college. In many cases, sports are the only way out of an impoverished life, and Ray Masters/Jerry Sandusky are supposedly there to help get them into positions where they can succeed in athletics. According to a new NCAA report, black football players outnumber whites on Division 1 teams for the first time, which shows how sports really do provide opportunity for young black men. This provides an ultimate example of the white savior complex. It is as if a black man, even in sports cannot succeed without the help and power of a white man.
The case of Jerry Sandusky and Ray Masters was ultimately closed and the perpetrator was convicted. All of the superiors of Jerry Sandusky who knew about the crimes were also released from their positions of power. This shows that justice can prevail in a court of law but the fact that this incident was kept secret for so long shows how white men of power can get away with crime. Opportunity for young African American men or poor young men should not be exploitation and abuse.
Unfortunately, this case is based on the true story of assistant coach of Penn State, Jerry Sandusky. In 2012, Jerry Sandusky was convicted with 45 to 48 counts of molestation of 10 boys, according to ESPN.com. Others knew about Jerry Sandusky's child molestation including graduate assistant, Mike McQueary, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, Penn State athletic directer Tim Curley, and Penn State senior vice president Gary Schultz (ESPN.com). None of these people in positions of power at Penn State reported the sexual abuse crime and Sandusky's abuse was kept secret. Victims of Jerry Sandusky, including his own adopted son, came forward about Jerry Sandusky, which eventually put him in jail for 30-60 years, perhaps the remainder of Sandusky's life.
Victims of Sandusky most likely kept quiet because of the success he helped them achieve. In Law and Order: SVU many of the victims were lower class and/or African American. The lack of opportunity for black people and poor people will lead them to do whatever it takes to become successful through an avenue such as sports. Due to structural barriers of race and class, many of these men might find themselves unable to go to college. In many cases, sports are the only way out of an impoverished life, and Ray Masters/Jerry Sandusky are supposedly there to help get them into positions where they can succeed in athletics. According to a new NCAA report, black football players outnumber whites on Division 1 teams for the first time, which shows how sports really do provide opportunity for young black men. This provides an ultimate example of the white savior complex. It is as if a black man, even in sports cannot succeed without the help and power of a white man.
The case of Jerry Sandusky and Ray Masters was ultimately closed and the perpetrator was convicted. All of the superiors of Jerry Sandusky who knew about the crimes were also released from their positions of power. This shows that justice can prevail in a court of law but the fact that this incident was kept secret for so long shows how white men of power can get away with crime. Opportunity for young African American men or poor young men should not be exploitation and abuse.