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Master's Thesis: "Obviously, You Play Football, Right?" Black Masculinity Constructed in the Face of Racism: An Autoethnographic Study
Rashad, Duke
Rashad, Duke
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African American college students—Social conditions, African American athletes—Education (Higher), Masculinity—Social aspects—United States, Racism in higher education—United States, Critical race theory
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Abstract
This autoethnographic study explores how Black masculinity is constructed and performed by Black male student-athletes at Division III predominantly White institutions (PWIs), a population often overlooked in existing research. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a framework, Sherrell reflects on his own experiences as a football player at a small liberal arts college in Memphis, Tennessee, to examine how racism, stereotyping, and institutional structures shape identity and behavior. The study identifies three key areas of marginalization: classroom stereotyping, racial hostility within athletic spaces, and the symbolic violence of racist campus landmarks. Sherrell argues that Black male athletes are often forced to suppress their racial identity to gain acceptance in White spaces, while simultaneously being excluded from Black student communities due to athletic obligations. The thesis calls for systemic change in higher education to support the emotional and academic well-being of Black male student-athletes and to dismantle the normalized racism embedded in campus culture.