“What Can I Do, What Can We Do?”: Exploring Black Women College Athletes’ Racial Justice Activism and Engagement During and After 2020

• In Event: Separate and Unequal: Studying Title IX in an Era of Extreme Conservative Backlash

Abstract

The highly publicized killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd in 2020, galvanized Black athletes at the collegiate and professional ranks into activism. Black women college athletes engaged in activism on social media and beyond. Social movements in college and professional sports highlight the internal and external activism of women athletes working to resist and change oppressive structures in their organizations, communities, and society (Cooper et al., 2019; 2023). The tradition of Black women college athletes’ activism is rich and deeply rooted. In the 1950s and 60s, the Tennessee State University Tigerbelles dominated in regional, national and international track and field competitions, producing Olympians like Wilma Rudolph and Wyomia Tyus (Brown et al., 2024; West, 2016). These women engaged in symbolic activism, using excellence in athletics and academics to bring attention to their lived experiences (Cooper et al., 2019; West, 2016). While Black men were more often encouraged and recognized as activists, Black women were expected to advocate through performance rather than direct political engagement.
Our study sought to deepen our understanding of Black college athlete activism by centering the experiences of Black women college athlete activists. By highlighting their resistance to oppressive structures and challenges to historically gendered ideologies that often marginalize their efforts, we aim to position Black women at the forefront of contemporary athlete activism (Barnett, 1993). This insight is particularly important in the aftermath of anti-Black violence in 2020, continued anti-Black racism on predominantly white campuses, and ongoing concerted attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education. Grounded in the internal athlete activism framework (Brougham & McLeod, 2023), this paper explores the experiences, reflections, and motivations of Black women athlete activists at predominantly white universities since the resurgence of the social justice movement in 2020. Key findings illuminate how Black women athlete activists navigate social justice conversations, develop a critical awareness, and engage in social justice activism. This study evidenced a need for spaces in which Black women athletes’ activism can be cultivated, supported, and celebrated. There is a clear interest and commitment to this work. Research shows that Black women athletes’ benefit from being in woman-only spaces in which they can have conversations about their identity, culture and lived experiences (Carter-Francique, 2013; Ferguson, 2023).

Authors

• Ezinne Ofoegbu, Santa Clara University

• Briana Savage, University of California - Riverside