Race, interest convergence, and transfer outcomes for black male student athletes

Abstract

Critical Race Theory is used to consider the educational outcomes that could accrue when the interests of black male student athletes converge productively with the interests of community college administrators, faculty, and coaches.

Supporting Black Male Community College Success: Determinants of Faculty–Student Engagement

“…Bush and Bush (2010) stated that Black men are more likely to be in need of faculty-student interactions and campus support services but are among those least likely to use them. They echo Harper's (2009) sentiments, noting that Black men in community colleges experience lower levels of engagement in college due to institutional conditions rife with racism. Given this, Wood and Turner (2010) extended several key approaches that faculty can consider to enhance their engagement with Black males.…”

“…Harper (2009) suggested that Black men experience more limited levels of academic engagement than their female peers. He situated disengagement as a byproduct of institutions, suggesting that lack of investment in SUPPORTING BLACK MALE STUDENT SUCCESS Black male success leads to lower levels of engagement.…”

Examining the factors that contributed to the retention and graduation of African American males at the University of Louisville.

“…Shaun R. Harper has written extensively on the subject of Black male college retention and achievement , 2006c, 2006d, 2009a, 2009b, 2009cHarper & Nichols, 2008;Harper & Harris, 2006;. Harper (2009c) employed Critical Race Theory (CRT) as "a conceptual lens used to examine racism, racial (dis)advantages, and inequitable distribution of power and privilege within institutions and society" (p. 31).…”

“…Harper (2009c) employed Critical Race Theory (CRT) as "a conceptual lens used to examine racism, racial (dis)advantages, and inequitable distribution of power and privilege within institutions and society" (p. 31). A feature of CRT is the idea of "interest convergence" (p. 31).…”

“…Messer identified academic and social integration as contributing greatly to student wellbeing and success. Harper (2009c) suggested that it is in the area of athletics that the convergence with the literature on two-year and four-year colleges and the processes of school transfer most frequently occurs, at least in terms of the conversation on Black male college students. He observed that research indicates that Blacks are more likely to envision a professional career in sports than are Whites, and that for Black athletes enrolled in twoyear colleges, the necessary step forward on this path is to transfer to a four-year college or university where the trajectory to professional leagues is more likely.…”