Black on Both Sides: Toward an Understanding of the Athletic and Career Aspirations of Black Males who Play Sports

This article investigates the experiences of Black males who play sports and aspire to achieve athletic and non-athletic careers. In-depth interviews and observations highlight the experiences, beliefs, and aspirations of a group of Black males who play sports in their Chicago neighborhoods and schools. Critical Race Theory, Yosso's communities of cultural wealth, and the athletic/academic paradox frame this study. The research study examines how the experiences of Black male students who play high school football and basketball challenge and conform to the expectations of others in consideration of how they think about academic, educational, and sociocultural goals, interests, and beliefs in U.S. schools and communities. The article concludes with implications for education, policy, and educational outcomes, specifically for Black male students who play sports.