No Evidence Black People Have an Extra Leg Muscle for Sports

Examining the Claim that Black People Have an Extra Leg Muscle

A persistent myth has circulated for years that Black people have an extra muscle in their legs that gives them superior athletic abilities. This myth likely stems from racist pseudoscience that attempted to prove Black physical superiority. However, modern science and anatomy have thoroughly debunked this myth.

The Origins of the Myth

The idea that Black people possess an extra muscle first emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries. Scientific racism, which attempted to use flawed science to prove Black inferiority, was prevalent during this time period. However, once racist scientists failed to find evidence proving Black intellectual inferiority, some shifted their focus to trying to prove Black physical superiority instead.

In the 1830s, French anatomist Julien-Joseph Virey claimed Black people had longer heels and shorter calves, giving them a "special ability" for running and jumping. In the 1860s, Pierre Paul Broca claimed Black people had longer limbs and an extra tendon in their heel that white people lacked. And in the early 20th century, anthropologist Caroline Bond Day claimed the longer heels and shorter calves created an extra muscle in the Black lower leg.

Anatomy and Physiology Refute the Myth

Modern experts in anatomy and physiology roundly reject the myth of an extra muscle. All humans, regardless of race, have the same basic muscle structures in their legs. According to experts, no ethnicity has an extra muscle that gives athletic advantages.

The lower leg contains four major muscles: the tibialis anterior, the tibialis posterior, the flexor digitorum longus, and the soleus. All humans have these same four muscles, arranged in the same way. No changes or extra structures exist in the lower legs of Black people.

Muscle fiber typing is also equal across races. The proportion of slow and fast twitch muscle fibers does not differ between ethnic groups. If Black people did have an extra muscle, it should be easily identifiable in anatomical dissections. However, no such muscle has been found.

Socioeconomic Factors Influence Sports Participation

If all humans share the same muscle structures, what accounts for the high representation of Black athletes in many sports? The answer likely involves socioeconomic and cultural factors, not biology.

Sports have historically been one of the few avenues for economic and social advancement available to marginalized groups like Black Americans. Athletic success is still seen as a path to escape poverty. As a result, many Black youths devote themselves to sports from a very early age.

The impact of role models and representation may also play a part. As Black athletes succeed in a sport, they inspire more Black youth to follow in their path. The increased participation translates to a larger talent pool.

So while many believe Black athletes are predisposed for success in sports like basketball, running, and football, the reality involves differences in opportunity and access, not in physical abilities.

The Harmful Effects of Perpetuating the Myth

Though it persists as an urban legend, the myth of an extra muscle in Black legs has seriously harmful effects on both Black people and society as a whole.

It Dehumanizes Black People

By reducing Black athletic success to nothing more than a fictitious extra muscle, the myth diminishes the hard work and dedication of Black athletes. It implies they do not need to work as hard or hone their skills like white athletes, but can simply rely on innate physical gifts.

This myth also hearkens back to harmful stereotypes of Black people being "built" for physical labor due to superior strength and endurance. It defines Black people by narrow physical characteristics rather than by their shared humanity.

It Perpetuates Racist Ideologies

The myth originated from scientific racism and eugenics movements that sought to categorize Black people as physically and intellectually inferior beings. Though couched in new language about "natural" athletic gifts, this myth continues to reinforce old racial ideologies.

It implies sports are the only arena where Black excellence shines through, due to innate physical differences. And it diminishes the importance of Black intellectual, academic, and professional achievements by limiting expectations.

It Excuses Racial Disparities

Belief in the myth also enables people to avoid confronting systematic racism in areas like education and employment. If Black people are assumed to excel in sports due to "natural" gifts, then disparities in other areas can be more easily explained away.

But inequality in academics, income, health care access, etc. stem from centuries of discrimination, not from anatomy. The myth obscures the impacts of continuing racism.

The Bottom Line: A Harmful Myth with No Scientific Basis

Decades of anatomical research have found no evidence that Black people possess an extra muscle. All humans share the same basic muscle structures. Success in any endeavor comes down to complex societal and cultural factors, not simplistic biological differences.

This harmful myth tries to define Black people by perceived physical gifts rather than celebrating the hard work and determination behind every individual's accomplishments. In the process, it diminishes humanity and perpetuates racist ideologies. In the face of overwhelming scientific evidence, it's long past time this myth was discarded for good.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.