The Ins and Outs of Being A Black Male Basketball Athlete at AU
As American University’s Black community has grown there has been a large influx of Black men on the campus which has increased traction and motive to create insular and positive organizations and environments for Black men and athletes on campus to congregate and join in brotherhood. The strong sense of Blackness and commradie from freshmen Elijah Stephens [elijahstephens_], graduate students Marvin Bragg Jr. [messymarvv], and Stacky Beckton Jr. [4ep_beck] displays the pride, self-awareness, and rich experiences towards highlighting the embodiment of a Black man’s experience in America and at a PWI, such as American University. The conversations that underline the importance of Black men solidarity is an opportunity to deconstruct and break down the immobility that has been dealt to Black men which disable moments for vulnerability, fluidity, and education that pertain to Black men’s health, prioritization, and individuality instead of a commodity. Conversations such as these are even more important for Black men in spaces where Black men are the minority within the minority as an athlete, student, and man. In remembrance of Black History Month and commemoration of Fredrick Douglas’s 127th birthday on February 20th, 2022, the Sports section of The BlackPrint wanted to highlight the voices, thoughts, opinions, and individuality of the Black men on the American University Men’s Basketball team.