This conceptual paper extends Anti-Racism Industrial Complex (ARIC) to U.S. corporate sport, exploring the intricate relationship between racial capitalism and political economy of race. We show how sport organizations employ anti-racism discourses for corporate profitability rather than genuine commitments to social justice, with the ARIC underpinning this strategic commodification. Using conjunctive cultural critique as a method, we examine the seemingly disparate contexts surrounding racial capitalism, racialization, and U.S. multiculturalism in sport. Ultimately, this study calls for a critical re-examination of the sport industry's anti-racism initiatives and urges a deeper understanding of persistent racial inequalities embedded in the USA.
Park et al. (2026) studied this question.