Beyond Sport: Black Student Athletes Experiences with Race and Anti Racist Practices
Abstract
This qualitative study highlights the experiences of Black student-athletes in Ontario, Canada. It explores how universities' commitments to antiracism, through policies, student support groups, and education, contribute to an antiracist environment. Critical Race Theory, antiracism, and nonperformative theory are the guiding frameworks for this study which draws on data from eight semi-structured interviews with Black student-athletes who play various sports in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) league. The themes that emerged from this study support the notion that anti Black racism exists within the OUA and is often manifested as microaggressions. Given the participants' unique perspectives on the universities’ acts of commitment, the findings support the claim that policies do not perform as they are intended to perform. Rather, student support groups and education are more effective commitments towards facilitating an antiracist environment. The data were divided into three major themes that help to serve as recommendations for future directions.