As a scholar-activist, my work focuses on the intersections of race, sports, and culture. I critically examine the cultural elements, identity, oppression of contemporary Black athletes. One way I do this is by examining collegiate athletic departments where many racial microaggressions affect the self-esteem, academic success, and personal development of Black student-athletes. I work to find solutions that will better fulfill their needs, limit the elements that hinder their progress, and reframe the way Black athletes are viewed.
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Please describe your current and/or previous roles that relate to your work for justice and equality.
2004-06 Lafayette College, Student representative for “The Diversity in Athletics Committee”
2011-13 Philadelphia PA, Lead organizer for “Students for Mumia and all Political Prisoners”
Consultant for various NCAA athletic departments on developing inclusive cultural environments for student athletes
2013, Washington, DC. (White House), Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Participant as an ally in the “Black LGBT Emerging Leaders program” as an expert on Black-male identity in sports.
2015-17, Black Lives Matter Houston (BLM-HTX), participated in organizing events and rallies against police brutality and injustice against Black people.
2017, University of Wyoming, The Shepard Symposium on Social Justice, Featured speaker on “Radical Man(tality): Identity, Sports, and Masculinity”.
2017-current, University of Delaware, Advisor for Ankh Maat Wedjau Honors Society, which contributes to the community through academic mentorship.
2017-current, University of Delaware Athletic Department, BLUE program, annual speaker on “the cultural transition out of collegiate sports and into the workplace”
2019-current, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Organizer for several initiatives such as voter registration, environmental justice, Black women’s appreciation events, etc.
In addition to the various things I have done throughout the last decade and beyond, the majority of my work comes though my academic research and writing. My academic work focuses on race, sports, and culture. More specifically, my work critically examines the cultural elements, identity, oppression of contemporary black male athletes in the U.S. and global context. My work is particularly important and timely given the zeitgeist that finds racial politics being negotiated through big-time sports. I have examined the cultural environment in athletic departments and found that there are many racial microaggressions that negatively affect the self-esteem, academic success, and life readiness of Black student athletes. I am focused on finding solutions that better fulfill the cultural needs of Black student athletes and limit the various elements that hinder their development. I also work to reframe the way Black athletes are viewed by providing a critical analysis that challenges despondent assumptions of black athletes often formulated through racially bias perspectives and commonly found in popular and academic literature.
What about your work brings you the most joy or gives you the most pride?
My work is a labor of love. Love for my community. Love for humanity. Love for myself and my family, since I am part of these communities that are affected by these injustices as well. My children will grow up with the issues that go unresolved in generation. I see it a more of a responsibility. People have done this work for me without knowing me. They worked for my liberation without knowing what fruit I would bare. It is because of their love I have benefited from their sacrifice. And it is out of love that I repay my community by continuing the work by moving the ball of liberation forward.
I find pride in working with such brilliant and morally strong people. Many of the youth I work with have been able to use the technology and culture of their generation to develop new understanding and solutions to the issues hindering black athletes.
What is your most meaningful moment or significant accomplishment as it relates to your work for justice and equality?
My most memorable moments have come when I speak to former student athletes who credit my mentorships for their success.
One memory came as a professor. A student athlete who had locs and tattoos, as did I, was criticized by a coach for having them. The coach said, “you will be working at McDonalds one day with hair and arms looking like that.” But then he referenced me by saying, “look at Dr. Brown, he has locs and tattoos, and he’s a doctor.” My joy came from how fearless he was in defending himself against this attack on his cultural identity. I also felt proud that I am able to be a model for Black young people who share my culture, but do not see very many representations of it in successful or leading positions. Through my work and my presence, I am to help change the way Black culture is viewed in white-dominated spaces.
What is the greatest hurdle you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge is knowing that many people and institutions talk about social justice and change, but most of them do not actually take action or support those who do.
What short phrase would you offer others to inspire them to have hope and/or to take action?
“You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people. You can’t save the people if you don’t serve the people.” ―Cornel West
How has this summer’s civil unrest and calls for equity impacted you?
This summer has absolutely impacted my work. The social action in sports has brought my work to the forefront of social justice. The use and role of sports has shown to be extremely significant in the Black communities fight against oppression. This is the focus of my work
How has your perspective changed since the time you were a Lafayette student?
Since my time at Lafayette, my perspective has not changed. However, it has grown tremendously. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We never are, we are always in a state of becoming.” That has been my trajectory. I learned and understand more about humanity and the issues that threaten our moral and physical being. I know more about myself as a Black man in a racialized society. I see the systems at work a lot clearer now.