African American Athletes’ Experiences of Race in Sport

Abstract

This study is a qualitative exploration of male and female African American athletes’ experiences of race and race discrimination with regard to specific incidents that occurred during their athletic careers. Eight African American athletes from different competitive levels and sports were interviewed to obtain a deeper understanding of their experiences of race and race discrimination and the role it played in their careers. The interviews revealed five themes that were identified as: ‘being hurt’, ‘outrage and shock’, ‘team togetherness’, ‘being empowered’, and ‘differences’.