Experiences of black student-athletes on a predominantly White University Campus

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to investigate and explain the academic, social, and athletic experiences of Black¹ student-athletes attending a predominantly White degree-granting² institution of higher education. Participants were six Black student-athletes (two women, four men). Situated in positioning theory, the research design was explanatory multiple case study. The primary data collection method was semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using a constant comparative approach and exposed that the participants had experienced academic challenges and negative social dynamics, but had athletic advantages in resources and training. To better support Black student-athletes, we encourage athletic departments, coaches, faculty, and all students to respect and value the identities, socio-economic backgrounds, and cultures of student-athletes of diversity.

KEYWORDS:

• Black student-athletes
• race
• athletics
• positioning
• academic
• interactions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Takahiro Sato, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in School of Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum Studies at Kent State University, Kent, OH. He served as Health and Physical Education program coordinator at Hampton University (2007–2010). His scholarship and research focuses on multicultural physical education, inclusion in sport, and diversity in higher education.

Samuel R. Hodge, Ph.D., is a Professor in Department of Human Sciences at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. His scholarship and research focuses on social justice pedagogies, diversity, and disability in physical education.

Kevin Eckert, MA., is a graduate student of Physical Education Teacher Education at Kent State University. He was an assistant coach of women’s basketball teams at Indiana University, Bowling Green State University, and State of University of New York at Buffalo. His areas of expertise are working with diverse populations, including the people of color. He received his MA in Athletic Administration from Ohio University.

Notes

1 In this paper, we operationally define Black as an individual or groups having origins in any of the Black ethnic or racial groups of Africa including African Americans and Latin American people of significant African ancestry (Kena et al., 2016; López & Gonzalez-Barrera, 2016).

2 Degree-granting institutions are “defined as postsecondary institutions that grant associates or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs” (Snyder, Dillow, & Hoffman, 2009, p. 3).

Additional information

Funding

We gratefully acknowledge the grant funding support of the Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.