Statements Versus Reality: How Multiple Stakeholders Perpetuate Racial Inequality in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership

in International Journal of Sport Communication

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Carter A. RockhillNorthern State University

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Jonathan E. HoweThe Ohio State University

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Kwame J.A. AgyemangThe Ohio State University

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ijsc.2021-0003
Keywords:
critical race theory; institutional theory; mission statements; racial diversity
First Published Online:
11 May 2021
In Print:
Volume 14: Issue 3
Page Range:
398–427
Restricted access

The lack of racial diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership positions is an ongoing issue in intercollegiate athletics. The purpose of this study was to analyze the mission, vision, and diversity, equity, and inclusion statements of Power 5 athletic departments and their affiliated universities regarding racial diversity and inclusion to better understand how these two stakeholders work in unison or isolation when creating racially diverse environments. The authors utilized an innovative lens, which merges critical race theory with institutional theory to center race and racism while evaluating how these institutional logics interact in practice. The data show that Power 5 institutions maintain a lack of racial diversity through cultures and mission statements that omit diverse values, create symbolic statements, or lack meaning in creating a diverse reality.

Rockhill is with the Dept. of Health and Physical Education, Northern State University, Aberdeen, SD, USA. Howe and Agyemang are with the College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

Rockhill (Carter.Rockhill@Northern.edu) is corresponding author.
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