Journal Article

Generations: Academic and Athletic Integration of a Southern PWI Basketball Program

Clark, Langston, Harrison, Louis, Bimper, Albert Y.

2015

Overview

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to: (a) analyze the insights and experiences of the 1st African American student-athlete (in basketball) at a prominent predominantly White institution in the Deep South as well as the later insights and experiences of his sons at the same university; and (b) to present a counterstory to the dominant historical rendering of the Civil Rights Movement, the integration of athletics, and the experiences and outcomes of contemporary African American athletes. Method: Using qualitative critical race methodology, investigators conducted and analyzed interviews with the 1st African American to play basketball at a prominent university located in the Deep South and his 2 sons who attended the same university a generation later. Results: Using the lens of critical race theory, the themes conceived from the analysis were the counterstory of agency, counterstorytelling stereotypes, and the salience of everyday racism. Conclusion: Racism is still existent within society, even within college athletics. The holistic success of African American athletes in college is dependent upon their ability to navigate overt and covert racial climates.

• Publisher: Routledge,Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subject: Academic Achievement / African American Students / African Americans / African Americans - psychology / Basketball - psychology / Civil Rights / College Athletics / critical race methodology / critical race theory / Critical Theory / Desegregation Effects / Desegregation Litigation / Educational Attainment / Familiarity / Fathers / Generational Differences / Humans / Integrated Activities / Integrated Curriculum / Interviews / Interviews as Topic / Investigations / Longitudinal Studies / National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) / Persistence / Phenomenology / Predominantly White Institutions / Qualitative Research / Race / Racial Bias / Racial Discrimination / Racial Integration / Racism / Social Environment / Socialization / Sons / Stereotypes / Student Experience / Team Sports / United States / United States (South) / United States History / Universities