Black Nfl Draft Prospects' Conceptions of Manhood
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DRAFTING INTO MANHOOD: BLACK NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS’ CONCEPTIONS OF MANHOOD AND IDEAS OF PLAYING IN THE NFL A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Andrew D. Brown May 2015 Examining Committee Members: Molefi K. Asante, Advisory Chair, African American Studies Heather A. Thompson, African American Studies James Earl Davis, College of Education James L. Conyers, Jr., External Member, University of Houston © Copyright 2015 by Andrew Brown All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT This dissertation examines how manhood is conceptualized by Black National Football League (NFL) prospects and explores how their characterizations of manhood are associated with their desire to become NFL players. This mixed-method study uses data collected by interviewing and surveying fifteen Black NFL draft prospects who were or would be eligible for the NFL draft between 2005-2016. The data are supplemented with existing literature and analyzed using the “Utamaduni Bwana” table of African cultural manhood in order to (1) culturally locate participants’ conceptions of manhood, (2) identify the African elements within their conceptions of manhood, and (3) highlight the agency within their responses. In essence, this dissertation explores the significance of the NFL draft and the influence of colonization on Black NFL prospects’ conceptions of manhood. This study found that Black NFL prospects’ desire to reach the NFL is heavily associated with their attempt to reach manhood. The characteristics most commonly found in the participants’ conceptions of manhood are strength, independence, and financial success; and their perceptions of NFL players contain hyper-expressions of these same characteristics. In addition, Black NFL prospects’ conceptualization of manhood contain both African cultural elements and, as a result of colonization, hegemonic Western cultural elements. This dissertation makes an important contribution to sporting and gender literature by using an Afrocentric methodology to push beyond the normative investigation of Black- male athletes’ identity and sporting goals. This study offers new and culturally appropriate questions regarding race, gender, and sports. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to us: Africans living, ancestors, and those yet to be born. Victory is ours! iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This has been a long and beautiful journey. This dissertation is one of my most monumental achievements. But no man is an island. I did not walk, struggle, and succeed alone. My community of people have planted and nurtured everything that is wonderful in me. To them I say with great pride and honor, Ubuntu! I must first thank the Creator of all things, known and unknown. To the spirit of the Almighty and everything holy, I acknowledge and thank you. To Mother Africa, I stand devoted to you. Your beauty resonates throughout my life and work. There are many people in my life who have stood beside me and provided support. But none sacrificed more for me than my mother, Faye Wilson; my Baba, Daniel Omotosho Black; and my brother, Brandon Stanford. Thank you all for investing in me. You taught me LOVE, integrity, loyalty, and faith. I owe most of my success to you three alone; I will be forever in your debt. To the Brothers: Drew, Andrew, Jason, Oshiomogho, O’Nicholas, Stephen; thank you for having my back more than I could have ever imagined possible. My family has been an absolute blessing on my journey. To my brothers, Lorenzo and Bryan; my cousin, Chris; Uncle Bill and Aunt Crystal; Auntie Dionne and Uncle Rodrick; my Aunt Net and Uncle Lionel; thank you for raising me and helping me develop into a great man of excellent morals and noble character. To the matriarch in my family, Pauline Ellsworth-Wilson, your spirit continues to be the unifying love of our family and a guiding light in my journey. I must give great acknowledgement to my dissertation committee members who were tremendous throughout my dissertation and doctoral studies. To my mshauri, Dr. v Molefi Kete Asante; Dr. Heather Thompson; Dr. James Earl Davis; and Dr. James Conyers; I say, thank you for your guidance and patience. To my colleagues and teachers at Herman Secondary High School, Lafayette College, Clark Atlanta University, and Temple University; my accomplishments are our accomplishments, and I thank you for celebrating this with me. I must specifically acknowledge the intellectual and spiritual support of LaSalle Hall, Jennifer Williams, and Dr. Miciah Yehudah. To my ancestors, I have felt your guidance. Although, I am sure I only feel a fraction of what you have provided me with on my journey. For those great ancestors who were the first people on this planet and laid the foundation for the entire human race, those who endured through the trauma and pain of colonization, those who maintained the culture of African people through the maafa and enslavement period, those who sacrificed in hopes of a liberated future for Black people, and those who sacrificed for me to be in this time and space; thank you, thank, you, thank you a million times over. I look to pass on the blessings and opportunities you created for me by continuing to push the rock of liberation and freedom. To all those who made me what I have become and my possibilities endless, I cry, I love you. Ashe, Ashe, Ashe-o! vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 Statement of Problem .............................................................................................11 The Delimitations...................................................................................................11 Significance of Study .............................................................................................12 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................18 Manhood ................................................................................................................20 NFL Draft...............................................................................................................29 Stereotyping and Oppressive Treatment ................................................................34 Identity ...................................................................................................................38 Consciousness ........................................................................................................42 3. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................45 Methodological Framework ...................................................................................45 Definitions..............................................................................................................54 Research Procedure ................................................................................................61 Target Population and Sample ...............................................................................62 vii Research Design.....................................................................................................62 Instrument ..............................................................................................................63 Procedure of Implementation .................................................................................64 Analysis..................................................................................................................65 4. FINDINGS ...................................................................................................................66 Demographics ........................................................................................................67 How BNPs Characterize Manhood ........................................................................68 How BNPs Characterize NFL Players ...................................................................71 Comparing Manhood to NFL Players ....................................................................73 The Desire to Reach the NFL ................................................................................74 UB Survey ..............................................................................................................74 5. THE MEANING OF SPORTS, FOOTBALL, AND THE NFL .................................76 Social......................................................................................................................79 Cultural ..................................................................................................................86 Football ..................................................................................................................97 NFL ........................................................................................................................99