Integration of College Sports In the United States, the integration of collegiate athletics constituted a critical turning point in the struggle against racial segregation, with several events influencing its development. Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, and Jackie Robinson's time at UCLA in the 1940s was one such occasion, and their athleticism in football there helped build the groundwork for future Black athletes in university settings (Spivey, 1983). The Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 indirectly impacted college sports policy, which challenged racial segregation in education nationwide. As a result, many college programs began to admit Black students, so Black athletes made their way onto teams. WW2 significantly impacted integration in college sports as colleges were forced to look in new areas to fill their teams. As a result, many black athletes finally had an opportunity to perform on the national stage. While integration gave Black student-athletes additional possibilities and visibility, it was a complicated subject with positive and harmful effects. …show more content…
According to the Atlantic, Alabama football generated around $174 million; the HBCU with the highest profit was $18 million. Historically, sports at HBCUs were especially significant because they allowed Black athletes to excel in a safe space. HBCUs and the experience of Black athletes underwent a transformation and faced obstacles due to integration. While possibilities for Black athletes to compete at primarily white universities and acquire more exposure were increased by integration, HBCU programs were also stretched due to talent loss and financial limitations (Hill, 2019). While HBCUs have maintained their legacy and prominence, for elite Black athletes, an HBCU seems to be an afterthought (Hill,