C. Keith Harrison (Kinesiology, University of Michigan): "Ralph Bunche

and the 'Scholar-Baller' Paradigm: Academic, Athletic and Social

Transformation"

2004

Dr. C. Keith Harrison presenting at the 2004 Bunche Symposium

C. Keith Harrison opened his discussion of African American student athletes, with several

personal anecdotes, among them the story of a discussion he had with his father in 1998 when he

commented on the failure of contemporary black collegiate athletes to emulate the actions of

historical African American student athletes such as Dr. Ralph Bunche and Jackie Robinson. In

response, his father remarked that "they've forgotten that they're black", highlighting the

observation that many modern black student athletes have come to neglect their cultural heritage,

as well as their responsibility to attain an education concurrently with participating in college

sports. Conversely, African-American athletes in the past were expected to combine scholarship

and athletic prowess to a greater extent than what is expected today. Bunche himself is a clear

example of what Harrison referred to as a "scholar-baller", a student athlete who balances not

only athletics and education, but cultural elements as well.

In discussing the "scholar-baller" phenomenon, Harrison recounted Bunche's achievements as a

dynamic student at UCLA, involved in various athletic and non-athletic activities on campus

such as the student newspaper and debate team. According to Harrison, despite significant

attitudes of racism during the early 20th century, African American college students like Bunche

were heavily involved in extracurricular activities, forming a type of "in-crowd" composed

primarily of student scholars. Though he faced discrimination from his white teammates, he went

on to become an accomplished student and valedictorian of his class. In his graduation speech,

he condemned racism, saying that "hatreds are superficial - based upon fear, ignorance, blind

prejudice, or a desire to dominate for selfish ends…if people can by educational processes,

mutually arrive at greater understanding and sympathy, these hatreds will in large measure be

dissipated…"

Like Bunche, other historical student athletes such as William Henry Lewis and Paul Robeson

also became known at their respective colleges for both their academic and athletic

achievements. However, somewhere along the line this expectation for black student athletes to

succeed academically eventually gave way to the "dumb jock" stereotype that exists today.

Citing a 1996 study using data collected from over 500 intercollegiate student athletes, Harrison

described an overall trend for black student athletes to either maintain a strong athletic identity

along with a weak racial identity, or to hold a weak athletic identity along with a strong racial

identity. He noted that unlike African American scholar-ballers of the past, modern black student

athletes tend to choose between academia and athleticism, rarely focusing on both. However,

Harrison also suggested that this not need be the case for contemporary black student athletes,

given the rich history of African American athletes who have succeeded at excelling in both

arenas.

Harrison suggested that the history of the original scholar-ballers such as Dr. Ralph Bunche

should be further studied, not only for its own sake, but in order to preserve the legacy they left

behind to modern black student athletes.