Dr. Dana Brooks: Progess is Being Made
January 17, 2011 02:29 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – It’s been more than 50 years since Brown vs. Board of Education, 45 years since West Virginia University integrated its basketball program and 25 years since the country began honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a federal holiday.
So, what is the status of race relations in university settings around the country today?
“I think the issues now are no longer access to either higher education or housing, it’s the quality of the experiences and the opportunity to graduate and move forward in their chosen professional careers,” said Dr. Dana Brooks, dean and professor of West Virginia University’s College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences and co-author of Racism in College Athletics: The African-American Experience and Diversity and Social Justice in College Sports.
Brooks says a popular topic being discussed today is the number of minority head coaches and administrators in collegiate sports. He believes progress is being made, but more work needs to be done.
“We’re getting there but to the extent of how far are they going up the mobility ladder?” Brooks said. “There are a number of factors and race is not the only factor. There are a whole multitude of things … what is it to be different? What is it to be a minority in a majority world? There are about 30,000 students at WVU and there are probably about 800 African-American students. The question is what is life like for the non-student athletes who don’t have the support systems or the infrastructure? Where do they go for help? Are they below the radar screen?”
Those are just some of the issues Brooks discusses with WVU students in a course he teaches on African-Americans in sport each fall.
“I’m glad that course is offered and we have about 50-60 people and we have a diverse population in there. Students need to hear these stories – not dwell in the past – but here is where we are. Here is a great state and a great university; here are the opportunities we have now,” he said.
At the same time, Brooks believes it’s important for students to understand that racism still exists today.
“What I say to students, and some professionals, is we can’t deny that these conditions exist – ‘there is no longer any issues of racism that exists.’ Well, if you take that position then you are never going to bring about any change because you don’t think it exists versus acknowledging, yes, it’s out there to some degree and let’s continue to realize Dr. King’s dream and let’s continue to move that forward.”
Brooks is now working on a third edition of his text book that examines all of the issues related to race and gender relations in athletics.
“We’re looking at issues of diversity, international student-athletes and their experiences coming to the United States, we’re looking at junior colleges and the players who play there, what extent do they graduate and what are their experiences like?” he said. “We’re looking at the history of black colleges and universities and their role of meeting Title IX.”
Brooks has also been collecting oral histories for a possible documentary film on the subject.
“My discussion and that of my colleagues is moving beyond just a discussion of race to diversity, inclusion and I think that is a better place for everybody in regards to male-female, tall-short … so yes, the dream is still alive and yes, in my opinion, we have come light years away from where we were.
“I am happy we are recognizing our problem and we’re doing something collectively as a society to do something about it. Have we come a long way? Absolutely. Are we making progress? Absolutely. Do we have work to do? Absolutely,” he concluded.
So, what is the status of race relations in university settings around the country today?
“I think the issues now are no longer access to either higher education or housing, it’s the quality of the experiences and the opportunity to graduate and move forward in their chosen professional careers,” said Dr. Dana Brooks, dean and professor of West Virginia University’s College of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences and co-author of Racism in College Athletics: The African-American Experience and Diversity and Social Justice in College Sports.
Brooks says a popular topic being discussed today is the number of minority head coaches and administrators in collegiate sports. He believes progress is being made, but more work needs to be done.
“We’re getting there but to the extent of how far are they going up the mobility ladder?” Brooks said. “There are a number of factors and race is not the only factor. There are a whole multitude of things … what is it to be different? What is it to be a minority in a majority world? There are about 30,000 students at WVU and there are probably about 800 African-American students. The question is what is life like for the non-student athletes who don’t have the support systems or the infrastructure? Where do they go for help? Are they below the radar screen?”
Those are just some of the issues Brooks discusses with WVU students in a course he teaches on African-Americans in sport each fall.
“I’m glad that course is offered and we have about 50-60 people and we have a diverse population in there. Students need to hear these stories – not dwell in the past – but here is where we are. Here is a great state and a great university; here are the opportunities we have now,” he said.
At the same time, Brooks believes it’s important for students to understand that racism still exists today.
“What I say to students, and some professionals, is we can’t deny that these conditions exist – ‘there is no longer any issues of racism that exists.’ Well, if you take that position then you are never going to bring about any change because you don’t think it exists versus acknowledging, yes, it’s out there to some degree and let’s continue to realize Dr. King’s dream and let’s continue to move that forward.”
Brooks is now working on a third edition of his text book that examines all of the issues related to race and gender relations in athletics.
“We’re looking at issues of diversity, international student-athletes and their experiences coming to the United States, we’re looking at junior colleges and the players who play there, what extent do they graduate and what are their experiences like?” he said. “We’re looking at the history of black colleges and universities and their role of meeting Title IX.”
Brooks has also been collecting oral histories for a possible documentary film on the subject.
“My discussion and that of my colleagues is moving beyond just a discussion of race to diversity, inclusion and I think that is a better place for everybody in regards to male-female, tall-short … so yes, the dream is still alive and yes, in my opinion, we have come light years away from where we were.
“I am happy we are recognizing our problem and we’re doing something collectively as a society to do something about it. Have we come a long way? Absolutely. Are we making progress? Absolutely. Do we have work to do? Absolutely,” he concluded.
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