Ephraim Reed is a sophomore sports management major and men’s basketball student-athlete at NYU. He started the first two games of his career in 2019-20 before suffering a torn plantar fascia that ended his season.
The UAA “Conversations About Race and Racism” series seeks to lift the voices of people of color and recognize the challenges faced in both athletics and academics at the collegiate level. By sharing personal stories, we hope to elevate the conversation about race to raise awareness and bring about change.
Challenges at Predominantly White Institutions
“I attended majority white middle and high schools where, at times, I was the only Black student in my class. While I did not feel pressure to represent my race, I always understood that my actions contributed to how my peers and administrators perceived the entire group of Black students,” Reed recalled. “I made sure to use my unique voice and perspective to lead and be recognized as more than a basketball player.”
Even at that time, he was looking ahead to future goals. “I made a conscious effort to help and support other Black students. That is an ongoing effort that will continue through college and beyond,” he expressed. “I plan to one day become a mentor to young Black men as they progress through their academic and professional careers.”
As other student-athletes have pointed out, competing in a sport makes it difficult to belong to other clubs and groups on campus. “One of the biggest challenges I face in college is finding the time to engage with a community of Black students. I was fortunate to find this community quickly at NYU, but not participate fully as I missed out on events and meetings due to my athletic responsibilities,” he described. “I have to make a concerted effort to stay connected with Black peers, but this is not a problem exclusive to student-athletes. At large majority white institutions, it can be easy to get lost as a Black student if you do not have a strong support group. This is why different clubs and affinity groups are so important.”
Misconceptions
“A lot of misconceptions about me come from the fact that I am a Black collegiate basketball player. For people who do not know me or are just meeting me, I feel like they see me as simply that,” Reed explained. “It is not until I tell people where I attend school or until teachers and professors see my commitment in the classroom that their perception of me changes.”
Reed does get frustrated when society fails to see Black people as individuals. “One harmful thing people do is assume that they know my experience as part of some monolithic “Black experience,” he remarked. “While their intentions to try to understand me may be good, this oversimplification comes across as insensitive and, at times, offensive. Education is a never-ending process so one should never assume to know “everything” about a particular culture.”
Speaking Out
Reed concedes that he is still trying to figure out the best way for Black and other people of color to navigate being a student-athlete while dealing with personal and societal racism. “One thing I suggest is that non-white student-athletes find communities of color within their schools, but outside of athletics, in order to build relationships with people who share similar goals, struggles, and experiences,” he recommended. “I also encourage student-athletes to speak up about their experiences. Many student-athletes of color experience similar challenges and by sharing this information, the issues can be addressed.”
He thinks that speaking out is also important for allies. “I would encourage allies to have those difficult conversations with family members and friends who aren’t as open-minded about topics relating to race or racism,” he stated. “Many people aren’t even aware of what systemic racism actually is and the way it affects every aspect of society, including health care, education, and economics. I believe the best thing an ally can do is to educate themselves so they can educate others and create more allies while fighting to create change.”
Role of Teams and Teammates
“College athletic teams have an important platform due to the attention they receive both on and off campus. They can use that platform to speak out against racism in an authentic way. College athletic teams are some of the most diverse and unique groups that exist,” he remarked. “They contain individuals from different backgrounds, races, states, and countries, yet these individuals are connected because of a sport and a common goal. I believe that college teams can be great examples of how to be united and stand together to fight for systemic change.”