Defense Date

7-11-2014

Graduation Date

Fall 2014

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

EdD

Department

Professional Doctorate in Educational Leadership (ProDEL)

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

Rick McCown

Committee Member

Darius Prier

Committee Member

Gretchen Generett

Committee Member

Adriel Hilton

Keywords

Black Males, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, Intercollegiate Athletics, Stereotype Threat

Abstract

The debasement and "niggering " of Black male student athletes who attend PWI's is an issue that has been well documented since the mid to late sixties (Edwards, 1969, Olson, 1968). This population has been negatively stereotyped as being superior athletically, but inferior intellectually (Edwards, 1984). Both scholars and practitioners have focused on other pervasive issues including: (1) the academic achievement gap that exist between Black male student athletes and their White counterparts (Harper, 2013), (2) the commercialization of college athletics (Beamon, 2008; Donnor, 2005), and (3) negative stereotypes that continue to plague Black male student athletes (Hodge, Burden, Robinson, & Bennett, 2008; Oseguera, 2010). There are also current monumental lawsuits including the likeness lawsuit and athlete's right to unionize that will certainly impact the future of revenue sports for Black male student athletes.

Through a review of literature, research, and the author's lived experience from professional practice, this dissertation in practice explores the psychological effects of projected negative stereotypes and how that might impact the academic and social experiences for African American Male student athletes who attend PWI's. The author employs a race-based epistemological approach to inquiry to explore the issues raised in this dissertation. Specifically, Stereotype Threat, Critical Race Theory (CRT), and the Sociology of Sport frame this work. The main argument is, racial stereotypes are still ubiquitous and pernicious for Black male student athletes who attend PWI's, and failure to see this issue as a matter of social justice, will ensure continued dismal outcomes for this population. The author suggest culturally relevant interventions to facilitating courageous conversations with Black male student athletes, and also a decentralized diversity initiative as designs for action that could lead to generative impacts. This dissertation in practice hopes to offer insights into the types of programs, services, psycho-educational workshops, and interventions that athletic departments or outside groups might consider for revenue playing African American male student athletes who attend PWI's.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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