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Finding Home: The Journey of Black Student-Athletes in College Sports

WEAA

Published March 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM EDT

Arielle Dickerson, SGJC Student News Network

BALTIMORE, MD -- Black student-athletes are still shining on the court and field, but off it, many struggle to find a sense of belonging. This is especially true at predominantly white institutions (PWIs), where feelings of isolation and underrepresentation are all too common. For athletes like Wynston Tabbs and Kameron Hobbs, transferring to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) was a game-changer, offering the community and support they had been missing. Others, like Gerrell Johnson, stayed at their PWIs and leaned on their teams to find that connection. Their journeys highlight a question beyond sports: where can Black student-athletes truly feel at home, and why does it matter?

For many Black student-athletes, life at a PWI brings challenges that go beyond sports. Isolation, a lack of representation, and cultural disconnects often make it hard to feel at home in classrooms or on campus. These struggles aren’t just surface-level. They touch deeply on personal experiences and the unique paths each athlete takes.

Gerrell Johnson, a former student-athlete at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, experienced these difficulties firsthand. As a sociology major, Gerrell often found himself to be the only person of color in his classes. This lack of representation left him hesitant to fully engage. “You come to a realization that you are the only person of color – sometimes I don’t feel comfortable talking in certain spaces and stuff like that.” he said, reflecting on the unease that came with being one of the few people of color in the room. That lack of representation wasn’t just awkward, it was isolating.

This isn’t just Gerrell’s story; it’s a reality for many Black student-athletes at PWIs. The pressure to prove themselves while defying stereotypes can feel like a weight they carry every day. Add to that the challenge of constantly adjusting their behavior or language to fit into different settings, and it’s easy to see how these experiences can take a serious mental toll.

For Gerrell, football was his saving grace. In a space where he often felt out of place, his team became his family. “If I didn’t have football, my experience at UMASS would’ve been completely different,” he shared. His teammates provided the support and connection he needed, helping him navigate the challenges of being in a predominantly white environment.

Gerrell’s story shows how important it is to create a sense of belonging, especially for Black student-athletes who face unique hurdles. While teams can be a refuge, the bigger issue of how PWIs address—or fail to address—their needs off the field remains. Without better resources and a stronger commitment to inclusivity, these challenges will continue to take a toll.

On the other hand, for Kameron Hobbs and Wynston Tabbs, transferring to an HBCU wasn’t just about continuing their athletic careers. It was a life-changing decision rooted in self-worth and belonging. Both athletes began their collegiate journeys at PWIs, where they quickly realized that something was missing. A sense of community that celebrated them as more than athletes.

At their PWIs, Kameron and Wynston often felt like they were only seen for what they could do in their respective sports. Kameron, a basketball player at Morgan State University, explained how it felt to be at an HBCU rather than to be just another name on the roster. “They definitely care more about me as Kam, not just a basketball player winning jersey number because at North Greenville, of course they wanted me to do good in school — but it was like you're here for basketball” he said.

That’s when they both decided it was time for a change. Kameron and Wynston made the switch to HBCUs, and what they found was completely different from what they’d experienced before. Kameron described his first impression as transformative. “It feels more like home. Feels like I got brothers and sisters… I can call the people that work around here aunties and stuff like that. At my PWI, I couldn’t do that,” he shared. Wynston echoed this sense of belonging, saying, “I just feel more comfortable and more accepted into the community… It’s a good feeling to have somebody like that, and it just makes you feel like you’re at home forever.”

At their HBCUs, they felt supported in every way—athletically, academically, and personally. Kameron noticed a huge difference in how he was treated by his professors. “At my PWI, the only time I’d be called to talk to a teacher was if they thought I was doing something bad—and I wasn’t even a bad student,” he explained. “Here, my professors call me just to check in and talk. They care about me as Kam, not just as a basketball player.” Wynston added how there is more of a push for counseling here at Morgan State University than his previous school.

The stories of Gerrell, Kameron, and Wynston all highlight the same struggle Black student-athletes face: finding a place where they’re truly valued. For some, like Gerrell, staying at a PWI means leaning on teammates to fill the gaps that the campus community couldn’t. For others, like Kameron and Wynston, transferring to an HBCU brought them the support and sense of family they’d been searching for.

What these experiences show is that belonging matters. It’s about being seen for who you are, not just what you can do on the field or court. Kameron and Wynston found that at their HBCUs, while Gerrell created it through his team. Their paths may be different, but the lesson is the same: Black student-athletes deserve spaces where they feel at home, both as athletes and as people.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about where you play—it’s about where you can be your best self.

The Journey of Black Student-Athletes in College Sports

Audio, Arielle Dickerson