The Secondary Diaspora of Black NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Student-Athletes

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Not So Black and White: Centering and Supporting Marginalized College Athletes' Experiences in College Athletics (Table 3)

Abstract

This research investigates how the NCAA's Division I educational pathway acts as a secondary diasporic conduit for Black female basketball student-athletes amidst its rising popularity. It examines how the neoliberal sports model engages, exploits, and disposes of African Diaspora descendants, directing them to predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Using Black feminist thought (BFT) and a queer diasporic lens, the study explores how Black female athletes, coaches, and their families perceive their roles within the NCAA's neoliberal structure. By employing semi-structured interviews, archival analysis, and content analysis of the NCAA's Instagram, the research aims to bridge gaps in understanding NCAA dynamics, race, and sport, offering a new perspective on human mobility and higher education impacts.

Author

• Iman Lathan, University at Buffalo - SUNY