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The Power of Black Student-Athletes in Combatting Institutional Racism

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Racial tensions and encounters with racism continue to plague predominantly white universities across the nation. A team from the University of Pennsylvania, led by Shaun R. Harper, is conducting a three-day assessment of the campus climate at a Midwestern university. They are likely to hear heartbreaking stories of racial harassment and frustration from students of color, echoing similar findings from previous research. Despite the diversity values expressed by institutions, people of color often feel powerless and disengaged, wondering if administrators will take action.

Key Takeaways:

  • People of color at predominantly white universities often feel powerless and disengaged, despite diversity values expressed by institutions.
  • Black student-athletes, particularly in revenue-generating sports like football and basketball, have tremendous power to ignite institutional change.
  • According to a 2013 report by Shaun R. Harper and colleagues, black male student-athletes are overrepresented in Division I college sports, making up 57.1% of football players and 64.3% of men's basketball players despite comprising only 2.8% of undergraduate students.
  • In the Southeastern Conference, nearly 70% of football players are black, with 830 black football players across 14 campuses.
  • Black student-athletes can leverage their reputational and economic powers to demand action from administrators, as seen in the University of Missouri's response to the protest.
  • Jonathan Butler and other leaders in the Missouri protest were inspired by the collective power of black football players, who threatened to boycott their game against Brigham Young University.

Statistics:

  • 2.8% of undergraduate students are black, while 57.1% of football players and 64.3% of men's basketball players are black (Harper et al., 2013).
  • 3.3% of undergraduates at Missouri are black, but 65.3% of football players and 72.7% of men's basketball players are black (NCAA, 2015).
  • Nearly 70% of football players in the Southeastern Conference are black.
  • 830 black football players across 14 SEC campuses.

Sources:

  • Harper, S. R., Davis, J. E., & Smith, S. (2013). "Black Male Student-Athletes and Racial Inequities in NCAA Division I College Sports."
  • National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) (2015). NCAA Division I Participation Rate for Football and Men's Basketball Report.

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