“More than an athlete”: How Black student-athletes use navigational capital to transition to life after sport

Abstract

ABSTRACT Using community cultural wealth as a framework, we explored the post-collegiate transitions of 20 Black student-athletes following the completion of their undergraduate career. We were particularly interested in understanding how participants leveraged different forms of cultural wealth. Four themes emerged from our data analysis: (1) aspirations beyond the game; (2) familial lessons and values; (3) proving and persisting as acts of resistance; and (4) social relationships and influences. These themes highlight important considerations and sources of support as participants’ time as an athlete came to a close. This article concludes with implications for scholars who study this population, and practitioners who are tasked with preparing student-athletes for transitioning out of sport participation.