Erison Hurtault is in his fifth season at the helm of the NYU cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field teams after two years as an assistant coach for the programs. He graduated with a degree in economics from Columbia University in 2007. Hurtault represented the Commonwealth of Dominica in two Olympic games, competing in the 400 meters at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 games in London.
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.
Knowing His Experience is Atypical
“As I look back, I can say that I have been very fortunate throughout my academic and athletic journey. My coaches and professors have always been very supportive of me,” Hurtault remarked. “When I started running track in high school, it was immediately apparent that my coach was focused on building the best team he could. Race was not a factor. He only cared about how hard you worked and how committed you were to the team. This created a great atmosphere and team culture for all of us.”
In spite of his own experiences, he was cognizant of racial disparities. “Growing up, I was certainly aware of the stratifications that seemed to have something to do with race. Although my public high school in New Jersey was very diverse, the correlation between race/socioeconomic class and placement were obvious,” he noted. “Ethnic minority representation in the honors or AP (advanced placement) courses did not correlate with the makeup of the student population. I attribute that not so much to the school system itself, but to the clear impact of injustices over time that were, and still are, impacting the lives of ethnic minorities in education.”
Hurtault’s academic standards were always lofty. “Thankfully my family and those I looked up to set high expectations for me and they motivated me to do my best. I pursued my goals believing that race should not be a limitation for anyone, while not forgetting that it still is for so many people,” he stated.
The Importance of Meaningful Conversations
“There is a long list of things people say or do that are harmful, but I think one of the most damaging things is the unwillingness to truly listen to others. I think much of the pain that people of color feel today stems from the fact that many of them feel unheard,” he intonated. “I can recall dozens of times when I have been with a small group of friends discussing a situation or comment that offended someone. During those discussions, we would often get closer to understanding the intent behind the action, which I believe is what is most important.”
Hurtault believes empathy is critical. “It probably isn’t possible to create an environment where no one is offended or hurt by a comment or action, but I always hope that people will take the time to talk and to try to understand one another,” he commented. “Similarly, we should all be mindful of the things that we say or do as we try to promote what we feel is true.”
Roles of Allies and Teams
“One area where I have seen a lot of progress is the willingness to talk about things more openly,” Hurtault communicated. “When we are receptive to having open conversations, we can learn a lot from each other. That deeper understanding of one another’s experiences will bring us closer and help us to overcome the challenges presented by racism.”
He sees teamwork as the ideal format for bringing change. “The way we truly deconstruct stereotypes is by integrating and working together. Teams are the perfect framework for this. Most sports, especially track and field, have objective measures that help guide the team in determining who earns certain accolades,” he described. “When you are part of a team, you are committing yourself to help the team succeed. That success is not based on how you look. You don’t even have to necessarily like your teammates, but you are working together toward a common goal.”
Hurtault maintains that working together benefits the team on and off the track. “In doing so, you get to really know who your teammates are. When we do that, we begin to challenge our preconceived notions of others and hopefully get closer to seeing them as they really are.”
Advice for Other Black Coaches
“Coaching is a great experience and your representation in the coaching ranks is valuable for athletics in general. As an athlete, I always felt that race seemed to matter far less in sports than in other arenas,” he said. “You are given a chance to perform and are judged based on that performance. Coaching is very similar in these respects. Though it is not without its challenges, it is remarkably rewarding.”
“If you enjoy competition and are prepared to set a good example for all of your student-athletes, then do not let anything hold you back from getting into the field and being the best coach you can be,” he recommended.