Chapter 9: Deconstructing “Gods And Monsters”: Black Men, Manhood, and College Athletics

Several scholars have paid attention to the experiences of Black men in American colleges and universities (Allen, 1988; Bonner, 2010; Brown, Dancy, & Davis, 2013; Cuyjet, 2006; Dancy, 2012; Dancy & Brown, 2007, 2012; Davis, 1994; S. Harper, 2009; Harper, 2012; Nasim, Roberts, Harrell, & Young, 2005; Palmer & Dancy, 2010; Palmer & Wood, 2012; Strayhorn, 2010). These publications provide insight into the ways that institutions reproduce social inequities which hamper Black male identity constructions and other collegiate outcomes including enrollment and completion (Dancy, 2010a, 2012; Harper & Nichols, 2008; Smith, Hung, & Franklin, 2011). For instance, Smith, Allen, and Danle (2007) found that Black students endured racial microaggressions at predominantly White institutions, particularly hate acts, internalization of stereotypes, hypersurveillance and control/policing. Research findings also identify stereotypes of Black men as thugs as well as campus and local glorification of Black male student athletes (Dancy, 2012; Harper, 2006). In addition, campus admiration of physical talent is complicated with stereotypes of the “dumb jock” for perceived academic shortfalls (Hodge, Burden, Robinson, & Bennett, 2008; Hughes, Satterfield, & Giles, 2007).