Leah Saunders is a senior anthropology major and volleyball player who was recently named to the Emory University 100 Senior Honorary. She is the reigning two-time UAA Volleyball Most Valuable Player and led the Eagles to the NCAA Division III title in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2019. The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. Saunders, a first team All-America selection in 2019, was recently a part of the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program that brings 40 ethnic minority students to the NCAA Convention, albeit virtually this year.
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.
Disproving Stereotypes
“For the majority of my academic and athletic journey, I was (and continue to be) one of the few BIPOCs (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in classrooms, lecture halls, and athletic competitions. Academically, there have been a few instances when a teacher has expressed shock at my intelligence and has commented that I am stronger in a subject area than they expected,” Saunders recounted. “Many of those same teachers and my classmates from high school were surprised I got into Emory and to this day, many still ask me to remind them where I attend as if they still can’t believe I was accepted into such a good school.”
Facing assumptions of athletic prowess because she is Black, Saunders decided to pursue a predominantly white sport. “Many of my teachers and peers assumed I would be inherently good at sports because I am Black and was usually playing (basketball and volleyball) against teams that were majority white. In my junior year of high school, I decided to pursue a collegiate career in volleyball. I was met with a lot of doubt from coaches suggesting I would not be able to get into a good enough program,” she described. “They suggested I would struggle fitting into the volleyball culture and that I was more “suited” for basketball and its demographics.”
Emory turned out to be the perfect fit for her. “I was eager to disprove the narrative and find a program that was willing to invest in my development as a student and an athlete. It also gave me a sense of security and comfort that there were other women of color within the program. Having that community has undoubtedly contributed to the positive and formative experience I have had here,” she communicated.
Misconceptions
“The most common misconception I have dealt with is the assumption that I am an aggressive person. That is the pervasive stereotype about the ‘strong Black woman’ who always says how she feels, rarely gets hurt, and is always able to stand up for herself,” Saunders pronounced. “Combining that stereotype with being an athlete who loves competition and wants to be successful, being ‘aggressive’ or ‘intimidating’ has often become a defining characteristic of how I am perceived.”
She acknowledges how much those preconceived notions remain at the forefront of her mind. “I have had to learn to reserve my competitiveness for when I’m in practice or during a match. I realize that bringing that side of me into more casual settings could be understood and potentially detrimental,” she noted. “Being an athlete my entire life, I believe I have to work hard and be honest about what I want in order to reach my goals. However, some of these ideals have played into an unfair stereotype that diminishes the validity of the struggles that I, and others, have faced.
Everyday misconceptions reveal themselves in regular conversations. “People making assumptions about my preferences in music, activities, and hobbies based on stereotypes they have of Black people create a lot of tension when I have to correct them. Commenting negatively on, or repeatedly asking questions about, my hair is another common occurrence,” Saunders explained. “Using Black culture as a costume, punchline, or as a way to seem different from other white people also affects me. All of these, and plenty of other actions, add tension and misunderstanding that contribute to broader inequalities and biases.”
Advice for Others Black Student-Athletes
“The biggest challenge I have experienced being at a predominantly white institution is feeling as though I do not deserve to attend the school that I am so excited and proud to represent. Several times, I and other student-athletes have been told by peers that we only got into the school because of our sport, not because of our academic achievements and/or our dedication to different organizations and extracurriculars,” she articulated. “Having to constantly go above and beyond in both athletics and academics puts a lot of pressure and doubt into one’s mind.”
Bearing that in mind, she hopes others would remain confident in where they are. “My advice to other ethnic minority student-athletes who are trying to balance dealing with social and personal racism is to be proud of their accomplishments and know they deserve to be at the school they are attending,” she recommended. “At the same time, it is important to recognize when you don’t feel as though you can’t be your authentic self. Go to teammates, peers, and/or coaches you can trust and they should listen to your experiences and help you navigate through your thoughts and emotions.”
Saunders believes there are other pivotal ways student-athletes of color can find balance. “Make sure to prioritize your mental health. For me, that means usually giving myself a few minutes of quiet time to reflect on my day and relax,” she suggested. “I also believe it is important to have another social circle to give yourself space from the stress that comes from being an athlete. One other thing I found helpful is taking courses centered around social issues you resonate with or may have never learned about. It helps with being able to articulate your experience and helps make it clear that you are not fighting alone.”
Role of Allies and Teammates
“In order to enhance dialogue and bring about systemic change, it’s imperative that coaches and recruiters look for more people of color to bring different backgrounds and experiences to their programs. Reaching out to marginalized communities and bringing them into athletic programs at these colleges and universities can be a start to shrinking educational and economic gaps,” she communicated. “It is important for teammates to acknowledge the varying experiences of the players on the team. Celebrate that you are all in the same place at the same time with the opportunity to represent your school and one another. There are multiple ways to do this, including being an active listener and working to bring awareness to inequalities that exist in sports and education. Things like holding fundraisers and awareness nights during competitions can use the platforms that student-athletes have to invite fans and spectators into the conversation as well.”
Saunders believes that the power of teams cannot be overstated. “Individual teams and teammates can be a point of transformation for ethnic minority athletes. With many sports having a majority white team, competing as one or one of few people of color can add a lot of pressure. In some ways, the easiest way to fight harmful stereotypes would be to treat all of your teammates with respect on and off the court,” she remarked. “There are important things that can be done beyond that. Raise everyone’s voices when determining team expectations, allow players to share their experiences with each other during team bonding events, and correct teammates who are using biased speech.”
She explains accomplishing those goals begins with oneself. “Acknowledge when your biases start coming out and your defensiveness to protect something that should not be there in the first place,” Saunders expressed. “It takes a conscious effort for all of us to improve our own behavior. It requires holding yourself accountable.”