Presentation at the 2018 UGA Global Conference on Sport for Social Change The media has become a primary source for Black males to locate sources of self-representation outside their familial networks. Entertainers, collegiate, and professional athletes often become their role models. As a myriad of research informs, a result has been the misfortune of young Black males continuously becoming socialized to value athletics over academic endeavors (Beamon & Bell, 2006; Benson, 2000; Bimper & Harrison, 2011; Edwards, 2000; Fuller, Harrison, & Bukstein, 2016). With numerous problematic symbols of Black success, coupled with false narratives of deficiency, our young Black kings are at risk of embarking upon a destructive route to (assumed) prosperity and (perceived) upward mobility. Ultimately, they may fall victim to what I characterize as the plight of perpetual possibility. Utilizing previous research and personal experience this presentation seeks to unpack elements of the plight, concluding with recommendations for those who have a vested interest in Black male success to cultivate a more holistic scholar-athlete identity.

1. Marques R. Dexter, MS
University of Georgia
Doctoral Student

2. Presentation Overview
• State of Black males
• State of Black male athletes
• Triple Tragedy
• Plight of Perpetual Possibility (P3)
• Manifestations of P3
• Holistic Scholar-Athlete Identity
• Recommendations for Development
• Conclusion

3. State of Black
Males

4. State of
Black
Males
• 39% of Black children under 18
live in poverty (Musu-Gillette et
al., 2016)
• 32% live in married-parent
households
• 48.3% of Black male students had
at least 1 out-of-school
suspension (Musu-Gillette et al.,
2016)
• 2012-2013 national graduation rate
for Black males was only 59%
(Jackson & Beaudry, 2015)

5. Probability of Competing Beyond High School Figures (NCAA, 2017)
Black Male Athletes
(NCAA, 2017)

6. Probability of Competing Beyond High School Figures (NCAA, 2017)
Black Male Athletes
(NCAA, 2017)

7. Black males are
over-identifying
with athletes as
a result of their
over-
representation
in the media.
Moreover,
lauding physical
performance
over academic
performance
(Beamon & Bell,
2006)

8. Triple Tragedy
• Obsessive pursuit of sports goals that most will
never obtain
• Personal and cultural under-development afflicting
many successful and unsuccessful Black sport
aspirants
• Cultural and institutional underdevelopment
throughout Black society, partially in
consequence to the drain in talent potential
towards athletics and away from vital
occupational and career emphasis (medicine, law,
economics, politics, education, and technical
fields)
(Edwards, 2000)

9. Inability to actualize their innate potential
Internalization of false conceptions of self
& self-worth
Hindered by a lack of Opportunities for success
beyond athletics
Adoption of dangerous and problematic habits
Ascription to hegemonic & toxic masculinity traits
Lack of ownership over their circumstances in life

10. Ways “The Plight” Manifests
Because of Athletics being highlighted predominantly:
• Role models were typically professional athletes & entertainers
• Unaware of prevailing societal issues
• Yet, they can recite and dictate top 5 plays or games from ESPN
• Often compelled to seek opportunities to be competitive & physically
active

11. Ways “The Plight” Manifests
At the conclusion of their athletic career:
• inability to effectively integrate into “normal life”
• Strong/salient athletic identity
• College was way to showcase & refine talent for “the pros”
• Deficient in basic communication skills
• Anxiety develops
• No longer gaining levels of attention previously afforded by their talent
• Can become reclusive
• Avoid people and places that remind them of “the glory days:

12. Ways “The Plight” Manifests
Identity issues/conflicts arise:
• Adoption of salient identity tropes
• Playboy, big time, #MCE
• Misogynoir, domestic abuse, etc.
• Conflicting masculine performances
• Unable to life up to master narratives of masculinity
• Those who hide their truth suffer greater

13. Ways “The Plight” Manifests
• Substance (ab)use can occur
• Coping strategies to deal with negative thoughts and feelings
• Prior injury history can increase risk
• Develop poor fiscal habits
• Not use to budgeting or spending within their means
• High levels of debt accumulates
• Endless feelings of inadequacy and External locus of control
dominates

14. How Can We Counter &
Prevent “The Plight”?

15. Holistic Scholar-Athlete
Identity
Scholar Baller Model (Dexter &
Grantham; Comeaux & Harrison, 2011)
Scholar Identity Model (Whiting, 2006)

16. Recommendations
for Development

17. Holistic Scholar-Athlete
Identity development
recommendations
• Provide positive representations for role models within sports,
education, literature, etc…
• Encourage and affirm education at early ages
• Communicate that college (beyond undergrad) is the goal
• Connect them with individuals in successful careers/positions outside
of athletics who look like them (Medicine, law, education, business,
politics)
• Affirm and celebrate all representations of success
• Empower the development of of backup plans beyond athletics

18. Holistic Scholar-Athlete
Identity development
recommendations
• Provide opportunities for them to be self-sufficient
• Train them on financial literacy, communication & network strategies
• Affirm all manifestations and Demonstrations of gender performance
• Above all else…
CELEBRATE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE!

19. THANK YOU

20. Works Cited
Beamon, K., & Bell, P. A. (2006). Academics versus athletics: An examination of the effects of background and socialization on African
American male student athletes. Social Science Journal, 43(3), 393–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2006.04.009
Comeaux, E., & Harrison, C. K. (2011). A conceptual model of academic success for student–athletes. Educational Researcher, 40(5),
235–245.
Edwards, H. (2000). Crisis of black athletes on the eve of the 21st century. Society, 37(3), 9–13. Retrieved from http://proxy-
remote.galib.uga.edu:80/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/206712535?accountid=14537
Jackson, J., & Beaudry, A. (2015). BLACK LIVES MATTER: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males. Retrieved
from http://blackboysreport.org/bbreport2015.pdf
Musu-Gillette, L., Robinson, J., McFarland, J., KewalRamani, A., Zhang, A., Wilkinson-Flicker, S., … American Institutes for, R. (2016).
Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups 2016. NCES 2016-007. National Center for Education Statistics.
National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved from http://proxy-
remote.galib.uga.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=ED567806&site=eds-live
NCAA. (2017). 2017 Probablility of Competing Beyond High School Figures and Methodology. Retrieved from
http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/estimated-probability-competing-college-athletics
Whiting, G. W. (2014). The scholar identity model: Black male success in the K-12 context. In F. A. Bonner (Ed.), Building on resilience:
Models and frameworks of black male success across the P-20 pipeline (pp. 88–106). Sterling, VA: Stylus Press.