“We Need to Wake Our World up”: Collegiate Athletes’ Communicative Constitution of Activism

Abstract

This study examines National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes’ experiences engaging in activism through the lens of the communicative constitution of organizations. Specifically, we investigated the modalities and approaches collegiate athletes employ in their activism. Findings indicate that collegiate athletes gravitate toward online and offline channels, and fiscal, ideological, and organizational activities as modalities for their activist efforts. We also uncovered that collegiate athletes’ inclination to call-in versus call-out is characterized by their willingness to engage with the recipients of their cause-related messages. This inquiry demonstrates the discursive and material nature of collegiate athlete activism, highlighting the call-in approach, and provides direction for athletes and athletic institutions in this time of heightened activist engagement.

Answering the Question on a ‘Racial Reckoning’: Resistance and Persistence in US Sporting Representations

“…Foster’s (2024) thematic analysis of tweets among HBCU fans, alumni, and media captures the use of the social media platform to simultaneous position the HBCU community as a sanctuary while calling out oppression. Another article explores activism by college athletes; one of the most interesting findings in this study is the inclination to “call-in” versus “call-out” – a willingness to engage rather than simply condemn (Feder et al, 2024).…”