Exploring the Challenges of Elite African American Male Athletes at Predominately White Universities: Three Descriptive Case Studies

Abstract

In American society, sports participation is viewed through many lenses. With both college and professional teams, sports are popular entertainment that rivets millions of people and is discussed passionately. It is a major revenue-producing enterprise for universities, professional sports teams, and the communities that benefit in many ways from sports attendance. For many elite African American male student athletes growing up in low-income urban areas and without many job possibilities at home, sports provide a potential means to climb out of their current economic circumstances, support their families, and possibly earn millions of dollars and fame. For elite collegiate athletes particularly, sports bring scholarships and a pathway to college as well as a better career. The possibility of attending college would not be open to many of these students from poor urban areas without sports scholarships. This study seeks to gain insight into the challenges experienced by elite African American male athletes attending predominately White universities.