“What Can I Do, What Can We Do?”: Exploring Black Women College Athletes’ Racial Justice Activism and Engagement During and After 2020

The anti-Black racism and violence of 2020 galvanized Black athletes at the collegiate and professional ranks into action and activism. Their activism follows a rich tradition of Black athlete activism dating back to the early 19th century. However, stories of Black college athlete activism often center on Black men and professional athletes, excluding Black women college athletes from these histories. Given Black women athletes’ activism recently and throughout history, there is a need to understand the experiences and perspectives of Black women college athlete activists today. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences, reflections, and motivations of Black women athlete activists at predominantly white universities since the resurgence of the social justice movement in 2020. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for future research and practice.