Nyane: The Reemergence of Black Resistant Masculinity through Sport

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the origins and social construction of Black masculinity through sport and athletic competition, beginning with an examination of the role of sport on the African continent and contrasting that with its role within the system of chattel slavery in the Americas. Under this system of brutality and oppression emerged two different types of masculinity in relation to athletics: resistant masculinity used athletics to retain cultural memories and reaffirm identity, while marginalized masculinity used athletics to entertain slave owners to survive enslavement and oppression. This paper argues that resistant masculinity encouraged enslaved Africans and their descendants to use sport as a tool of resistance and reaffirmation of identity. This paper connects this legacy with the actions of athletes and other men of African descent using both historical and contemporary frames of reference.