Black Female Student Athletes' Experiences at a Division I Historically Black College/University

• In Event: Crown Plaza Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: The Black (Round)Table: At the Intersections of Blackness and College Sport

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the college experiences (academic, athletic, and social) of Black female student athletes at a Division I historically Black college/university (HBCU) and identify ways to best facilitate their educational attainment and positive developmental outcomes. Data collection methods included two focus groups, seven individual interviews, and an 8-item demographic questionnaire. Utilizing role theory, critical race methodology, and the education-sports symbiosis theory, the current study explored how Black female student athletes at a Division I HBCU navigate their experiences and manage their multiple identities. Key findings highlighted both unique benefits and common challenges associated with being a Division I student athlete at a HBCU.

Authors

• Joseph Nehemiah Cooper, University of Connecticut

• Jewell E. Cooper, University of North Carolina - Greensboro