HOOPERCHICKS: BLACK WOMEN, COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND IDENITY NEGOTIATION A Dissertation by CHARITY CLAY Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Reuben A.B. May Committee Members, Jane Sell Sarah Gatson Akilah Carter-Francique Head of Department, Jane Sell August 2014 Major Subject: Sociology Copyright 2014 Charity Clay ABSTRACT This project used in depth interviews with Black women who played Division I college basketball from1997-2007 to elucidate how they developed their racial, gender and athletic identities during adolescence, and how those identities are performed within the role of student athlete. My research shows that there are specific factors attributed the cultural significance basketball has in the black community and the increased visibility of women’s basketball during my participants’ adolescence that position basketball as a reference group of Black women’s empowerment. I call my participants “Black woman hoopers” to represent the conflation of race, gender and athletic identity. The qualities of Black woman hoopers include but are not limited to: strong work ethic, perseverance, value of teamwork/sisterhood, and self-confidence. Investigating my participants’ college experiences at predominately white institutions revealed the following themes: the importance of having Black teammates and coaches to provide mentoring; exacerbated racial battle fatigue for participants with primarily white teammates and coaches; the development of a community of support extending beyond their teammates and coaches; and how the larger community of Black woman hoopers transcends individual teams and exists as a space for a wide array of representations of Black womanhood not constrained by Eurocentric standards of beauty and femininity. Framing inquiries into my participants’ experiences after their college careers with ii the 2007 Don Imus incident in which he called women on the predominately Black Rutgers University women’s basketball team, “Nappy headed hoes” revealed the extent to which my participants understood the negative perceptions of Black woman hoopers. It also allowed them to reflect on ways that their experiences as Black woman hoopers have equipped them to deal with similar stereotypes that exist in their current career fields. This research combats the silence of Black women athletes’ voices and presents Basketball as a unique space where Black women, because they comprise a majority at elite levels, can celebrate and build solidarity that include the spectrum of representations of Black womanhood that extend beyond athletics. iii DEDICATION This project is dedicated to the memory of the “Mayor of North Minneapolis” Mr. Keith Davis who passed on June 19, 2012. Keith ignited my passion for basketball and helped me use it to avoid the many traps set on the Northside of Minneapolis. In 1995, he got me tickets to see the NCAA Division I women’s basketball final four at the Target Center. Seeing our hometown heroines Brandi Decker and Tracy Henderson as players for the UGA Lady Bulldogs and watching the UCONN Huskies go undefeated in their win over the Tennessee Lady Vols was the moment I truly believed that I could play Division I college ball one day; a goal I am glad he saw me accomplish. Keith saw something in me beyond my basketball skills; he challenged me to be a leader in my community and be a role model for the younger kids who were looking up to me when I thought I was invisible. Keith always made sure that the YMCA was a safe place not only for me but for all my peers growing up and I can honestly say that on numerous occasions, his intervention saved my life from going in a very negative direction. Whether it was challenging me to a game of horse or conversing with me for hours about the best NBA and college players of the 1990s, he helped develop my love for basketball not only as a player, but also as a student of the game. It pains me that he is no longer here physically to witness the completion of my journey, but I know he is smiling at my accomplishments. This project is also dedicated to every Black girl who found refuge in an empty gymnasium and fell in love with the sound of a bouncing basketball. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Reuben A.B. May, and my committee members Dr. Jane Sell, Dr. Sarah Gatson and Dr. Akilah Carter-Franicque for their continued guidance and support through the arduous process of this research. I would also like to thank Dr. Joe Feagin, Dr. Wendy Moore, Dr. Aisha Durham, Dr. Tommy Curry and all the other Texas A&M professors whose classes helped me sharpen my academic tools. Thanks specifically to the sociology department staff and my colleagues, especially Dr. Louwanda Evans for encouraging me to complete this project and being a great friend from the first campus tour to the completion of my dissertation. To my participants and everyone who helped me recruit them, this project would not have been possible without you. Thanks for sharing your experiences, being flexible with your schedules and reassuring me that the work I am doing is necessary. I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to the McNair Scholars Program at DePaul University specifically my mentors Michael Aldarondo-Jeffries and Doreen Pierce for guiding me through the graduate school application process and convincing me that I could be successful at the graduate level. I would also like to thank my undergraduate mentor Dr. William Sampson who encouraged me to pursue my PhD after I was still lamenting the end of my college basketball career. I also have to thank DePaul University and the city of Chicago for embracing me and giving me a second home, in particular the Black Student Union for offering me my first experiences in student activism and leadership and the Irwin W. Steans Center for Community Based v Service Learning for allowing me to immerse myself into various Chicago communities and discover my passion for youth development through Hip Hop culture. I want to acknowledge the community of North Minneapolis that raised me. My early coaches, Curtis Travis who let me, a 4th grade girl at the time, play on the 6th grade boys travelling team. Tara Starks, who had the confidence in me to believe that I could make a game winning shot. Candace Whittaker, who gave me my first experience playing on a national stage when I was 10 years old. Clarence Sellers, who invested his time, energy and money into providing opportunities for Black girls on the Northside who wanted to play basketball. All of my teammates at the YMCA, Jerry Gambles Boys & Girls Club, for Youth Connection Lady Hawks and Urban Stars, thank you for pushing me to be the best and teaching me how to be a good teammate. My high school coaches Shannon Loeblein and Lea Favor for giving me the opportunity to play basketball at some of the best academic institutions in the state and believing that I was one of the best players in the nation. Coach Faith Johnson, who I did not have the pleasure of playing for but who always supported me as a player. Bringing Carolyn Peck to see me play meant more to me than words can express, I am sorry I played so poorly that game. To my most influential teachers: my 3rd grade teacher Carol Sauro for seeing past my defiance and encouraging me to be engaged; my fifth grade teacher Joni Kueng and my sixth grade teacher Craig LeSeur for convincing me that I did not have to downplay my intelligence to be accepted by My high school teachers, especially Mr. Rod Anderson who reminded me that the best passes come from the heart. vi The most important thanks go to my family. My parents for always supporting me in all my endeavors and making sacrifices to provide me with the best resources and opportunities they could afford. My partner, Mr. Zoheth Jones for being so supportive, patient, understanding, and keeping me sane through the last part of this journey. I do not think anyone else could have done the job as well as you. You are amazing. All my friends who reviewed a chapter draft, listened to me brainstorm ideas or just allowed me to vent as I struggled through this process. My aunts and uncles for their support, even though it is most often from afar, it is greatly appreciated. My older cousins who looked out for me and younger ones who may look up to me; you all are my constant motivation to complete this difficult task. The time I missed with all of you pursuit of this degree is bittersweet but I share this accomplishment with you as proof that you can achieve your wildest dreams. I share this achievement with everyone I acknowledge because you all have shaped me to be the person able to overcome what seemed, at times, like an insurmountable obstacle. My eternal thanks to all of you. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ..................................................................................................................iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 Social and Historical Context ........................................................................................