“Nowhere for me to go:” Black Female Student-Athlete Experiences on a Predominantly White Campus

Abstract

Black female student-athletes are often compared to Black men or White women; however, they stand at the intersection of multiple identities and encounter challenges related to being Black, female, and student-athletes (Howard-Hamilton, 2001). This is an in-depth case study of one Division I women's basketball team at a predominantly White university on the west coast. Nine phenomenological interviews with Black female student-athletes, their coaches, and select athletics administrators were conducted. The main themes identified were a concern over the lack of campus diversity, wanting more coaches and staff of color, changing racial dynamics, feelings of isolation, and wanting support for their non-athlete identities. Implications for policy and practice are suggested from the participants' own perspectives.

Keywords:

• Black female student-athletes
• student experience