Chapter 27: Examining Access and Opportunity for Black Male Athletes at Selective Research Universities Using a Critical Race Theoretical Perspective

The traditionally White or historically White institution of higher education (HWIHE) was never designed for the intellectual pursuits of Blacks, in general, and Black males, specifically. According to Wilder (2013) many American universities share a unique history in investing in the African slave trade and the exploitation of Black labor. Wilder (2013) asserts that:

Although these universities were able to educate many of this nation’s leaders and build enormous endowments from Black slave labor, they were never intended to include Blacks in their educational endeavors. Whether it is the curricula or sociocultural structures of these institutions, including athletics, they were conceived to educated and further the reign of White supremacy.