| dc.description.abstract | Since their inception, HBCUs have made notable contributions across national and international domains. Their athletic spaces, much like the connected educational institution, have also impacted multiple areas of sport, culture, and society. Understanding this point, coupled with the positioning that sport and higher education serve as social institutions, I argue that HBCU sporting spaces should be understood as such. To achieve this, I conducted three studies – two being theoretical and the final being an empirical study. Article 1 is a critical reconceptualization of HBCU sporting spaces through a Black Critical Theory (BlackCrit) framework. The result of this study shifted discourse and aided in repositioning HBCUs within the broader college sport landscape. The application of this theoretical perspective or lens resulted in key arguments that guided the development of Articles 2 and 3. Article 2 explored the argument that the social stratification and institutional distancing of HBCUs from HPWI programs is a result of the college sport landscape operating as a racialized organization. Implementing a Theory of Racialized Organizations lens, Article 2 explored the role of race and racialization within college sport media, economics, governance, and social discourse – resulting in the marginalization of HBCU athletic spaces. Building upon the argument that HBCU sporting spaces create liberatory experiences for community members, Article 3 consisted of a Critical Discourse Analysis of tweets about the HBCU sporting experience through a Black Liberatory Fantasy framework. This framework resulted in five (5) emergent themes that speak to the unique contributions of the HBCU sporting space from athletic, academic, professional, and social perspectives. The cumulative findings result in shifting from anti-deficit narratives towards critical and liberatory framing. Aligning with this shift in perspective, the empirical findings amplify the role of sport at HBCUs in creating positive and enriching experiences. Broadly, each study extends the understanding of sport as a social institution, along with the role of society on the framing and operation of these spaces. Practically, implications of these studies impact media, governance, and resource allocation by highlighting culturally-responsive and equitable practices. Detailed theoretical and practical implications are explained further within each study. | |
