Beyond the scoreboard: Career preparation and transitions of Black college athletes.

Abstract

This study employed critical race theory as an interpretive framework to explore 13 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Black athletes’ experiences during college—including sources of support and engagement activities—and the perceived impact of these experiences on their career transitions following college. The study found that Black athletes did not receive adequate support and guidance to participate in high-impact educational activities because of the exploitative structural arrangement of athletics influenced by underlying antiblack logics of disposability that push them toward a greater focus on athletics at the expense of their academic futures. These findings have implications for stakeholders in the affairs of athletics and others who frequently interact with Black athletes and are committed to creating more equitable learning environments.