In the United States of America, it is well documented that American sports, whether it is at the professional level or amateur level are a huge part of our culture. However, in the African-American disadvantaged communities the majority of the people believe that playing sports is the only ticket out of poverty (Anderson 363-364). As a result, parents of potential African-American athletes start raising their sons and daughters to become so-called “blue chip” athletes practically at birth (Anderson 364-365). Moreover, the obsession to play sports in these communities at an extremely young age is the norm and the pressure to excel is demanding (Anderson 369). Regrettably, the constant emphasis on playing sports often overpowers education,
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Shaun Harper, Director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education, along with his colleagues conducted a study titled the, “Black Male Student-Athletes and Racial Inequities in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)”. The primary purpose of the study was to force college administrators to make transparent the racial inequities at their institutions. In the study, Harper et al argued that most college administrators contend that the primary reason for the academic inequities in their sports programs is that they are unable to enroll enough academically qualified African-American male students (Lederman p. 1 cited Harper p. 8). However, these same colleges have no problems enrolling numerous academically unqualified, but athletically qualified African-American male students every year (Lederman p. 1 cited Harper p. 8). As a result, the mainstream media and critics continue to scrutinize and scandalize colleges across the country for their unethical recruiting practices of over-recruiting unqualified African-American male “athlete-students” or the “athleticated”, and the failure to recruit academically qualified African-American male “student-athletes” or the “educated” …show more content…
1 cited Harper p. 8). In 2010, Brandon Martin et al conducted a study titled, “It takes a Village for African-American Male Scholar Athlete: Mentorships by Parents, Faculty and Coaches. The primary purpose of the study was to examine the lifestyle of high-achieving African-American male student-athletes at predominately White institutions to determine the commonality and influences behind their academic success (Martin et al 277). The African-American male student-athletes selected for the study were pursuing rigorous degree programs and were academically successful while playing sports (Martin et al 277). The study revealed these higher-achieving African-American male student-athletes from advantaged and disadvantaged communities were more goal-oriented; therefore, they understood the importance of academic success (Martin et al 277). Moreover, these athletes were highly respected leaders and role models on their teams and possessed a positive mental attitude with great work ethics. As a result, these athletes tend to perform at an extremely high-level athletically due to the lack of academic stress that comes with the rigors of college life (Martin et al 277-295). Furthermore, the study revealed that the most
Shaun Harper, Director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education, along with his colleagues conducted a study titled the, “Black Male Student-Athletes and Racial Inequities in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)”. The primary purpose of the study was to force college administrators to make transparent the racial inequities at their institutions. In the study, Harper et al argued that most college administrators contend that the primary reason for the academic inequities in their sports programs is that they are unable to enroll enough academically qualified African-American male students (Lederman p. 1 cited Harper p. 8). However, these same colleges have no problems enrolling numerous academically unqualified, but athletically qualified African-American male students every year (Lederman p. 1 cited Harper p. 8). As a result, the mainstream media and critics continue to scrutinize and scandalize colleges across the country for their unethical recruiting practices of over-recruiting unqualified African-American male “athlete-students” or the “athleticated”, and the failure to recruit academically qualified African-American male “student-athletes” or the “educated” …show more content…
1 cited Harper p. 8). In 2010, Brandon Martin et al conducted a study titled, “It takes a Village for African-American Male Scholar Athlete: Mentorships by Parents, Faculty and Coaches. The primary purpose of the study was to examine the lifestyle of high-achieving African-American male student-athletes at predominately White institutions to determine the commonality and influences behind their academic success (Martin et al 277). The African-American male student-athletes selected for the study were pursuing rigorous degree programs and were academically successful while playing sports (Martin et al 277). The study revealed these higher-achieving African-American male student-athletes from advantaged and disadvantaged communities were more goal-oriented; therefore, they understood the importance of academic success (Martin et al 277). Moreover, these athletes were highly respected leaders and role models on their teams and possessed a positive mental attitude with great work ethics. As a result, these athletes tend to perform at an extremely high-level athletically due to the lack of academic stress that comes with the rigors of college life (Martin et al 277-295). Furthermore, the study revealed that the most