Tenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

Previous studies on racial identity and sports have shed significant light on how African Americans forge and negotiate their racial identity, both individually and collectively. Black athletes develop a unique and prideful racial identity in an industry dominated by white elites who control the reward and opportunity structures in various sports. Whether this unique experience is shared by other racial minorities is not yet examined thoroughly. In-depth interviews are being conducted with 13 non-white recreational adult ice hockey players with a range of skills and experiences in northern California. Specific focus is on whether and how participants develop a double consciousness. Preliminary findings reveal that a double consciousness is not a universal experience among amateur ice hockey players. However, the emergence of a double consciousness is correlated with players’ non-conformity to both the norms unique in ice hockey and racial stereotypes in society.