Neil Degrasse Tyson: People Assume I Was an Athlete Because I’m a Large Black Man

AVIRGAN: Are people surprised when they hear that you were so into sports?

TYSON: I’m not a small person. We’re so trained in our society, if you see sort of a black person with some of body size — oh, must’ve been an athlete. There are people who don’t remember that I do science but they recognize me in some way. “Haven’t I seen you on TV?” I say, maybe, I don’t know. “Aren’t you a sportscaster?”

The stereotype kicks in. So people — no, they’re not surprised

AVIRGAN: But why is it hard for people — I think it’s hard for people to have it in their head that you can be really nerdy and a really good athlete at the same time.

TYSON: There was a day when that was the case, but [now] they delight in the fact that that exists. It’s not hard. I think they delight. They like knowing there’s something else you might do well, and I’m honored by that curiosity. … There’s one video of me dancing that was smuggled out of the Christmas party in my department.

AVIRGAN: You know i’m gonna Google that right now.

TYSON: And it’s filmed vertically.

AVIRGAN: Oh that’s the worst.