Ross Brown is a senior consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton and a Washington University graduate who double majored in economics & strategy and finance. He was a nine-time NCAA Division III All-American and 14-time All-Association honoree in swimming. Brown, a two-time College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) first-team Scholar All-American, earned the 2018 Arthur Ashe, Jr. Swimming and Diving Scholar Award by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine.
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.
Throughout his life, Ross Brown has lived in the dichotomy of being viewed as either Black or not Black enough. “Most people get to know me and they don’t consider me ‘Black enough’, yet in certain situations, they see me as just Black,” he described. It takes me aback sometimes. I am either seen as Black or not Black enough. I get a little distraught by it. You know it’s not right, but at the same time, it is hard to explain.”
Growing up as a Swimmer
With his father in the military, Brown moved every two years before college. “Every time we moved, I was placed in a lower swimming group before I started swimming and then as soon as I started swimming, they realized I needed to be in a higher level,” he explained. “At times, I was trying to fit in and make friends since I was moving place to place. There are not too many African-American officers in the military, so I knew my family’s experience was unusual.”
Competing in a predominantly white sport added to the disconnect of his life experience and what others were expecting. “My club swim team in Florida was all white except for me and one Latinx swimmer. There was a stereotype of what the Black person should be, how they talk, what they do. I did not fit that mold so that led to people saying I was not really Black. People couldn’t understand some of the things I was hesitant to do or my need to work harder than most people. I felt I had to prove a point,” recounted Brown, who noted one of the things he was, and still is, hesitant to do is to go certain places. “As I plan trips with friends in college and post grad, I view it as a time to relax a bit. Because of that, I’m hesitant to go to more homogenous areas as I become hyper-aware of my actions to avoid being racially profiled. Even then it’s hard to not be profiled.”
Even when his hard work and ability were evident, Brown still struggled with teammates’ comments. “I became known as the ‘fast Black swimmer.’ At first, I was glad that people knew me, but by the end of high school, it started to feel weird and I wanted to be known just as a ‘fast swimmer.’ The benefit of swimming is that your performance is based on time, which is objective, but because of the color of my skin, I felt that unfairly had to be an extra identifier.”
Experiences with Police
In Fall 2016, WashU was chosen to host one of the presidential debates in the athletic complex where the pool is located. “We were having one of our last practices before the pool was closed for the debate. Security was high and we had to walk past a police checkpoint before entering the road to the athletic complex. I saw a group of teammates (mostly white) in front of me walking through the checkpoint with no issue and without having to show their school IDs,” he recalled. “As I was walking through wearing WashU swim gear, I was stopped by the officers. I had to prove I was a student and part of a sports team. I had to show my WashU ID and re-flash my WashU swim gear to show I belonged. They finally let me pass. Though it seems minor, it was a major reminder of the biases people have.”
Another time, Brown and a group of teammates were returning to campus from a park when the vehicle they were in was stopped by a police officer. “Though I wasn’t driving, I was extremely nervous, more so than anyone else. The officer checked everyone’s IDs (there were six of us) and gave the white driver a warning,” he remembered. “When we got back to campus, I was still shaken. The driver saw I was acting differently and tried to console me by talking about how he had feared receiving a speeding ticket. I snapped at him about how I was fearing for my life during the police engagement. I realized I probably could have treated this situation as a teaching moment, but I was too taken aback that the fear of a speeding ticket can be compared to fearing for my life.”
The Protest Photo
On June 7, 2020, Brown posted a photo of himself on Instagram from a protest he attended in D.C. with a powerful message:
“I’m thinking about the emotion I’ve had for the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other African-Americans because of the color of their skin. I am thinking about the people who told me I’m ‘not Black enough’ or have said, ‘You’re pretty white.’ I’m thinking about the times when people were shocked I was a swimmer. I’m thinking about when I was stopped and checked on my way to practice when my non-Black teammates 10 feet in front of me weren’t. I’m thinking about the pure fear of losing my life when I’ve been pulled over. I don’t have all the answers on how to end this, but I know that the time for change is now. The time for action against systemic racism is now.”
He received a myriad of reactions to the photo and statement. “It was hurtful to see that some people were surprised and that they didn’t see this fight as their goal,” he explained. “At the same time, it became an entryway to have these important discussions, to talk about why it is so bothersome that you may not see me as Black and are scared of the fact that I am. This is the road I have to navigate.”
Advice for Black Student-Athletes and Allies Alike
“In a sport where there has been a historically racial divide (segregated pools, stigma against swimming), I take honor in showing that there are successful Black swimmers, educating my fellow swim mates on the struggles I have had, and challenging those around me to progress the culture of the sport of swimming,” Brown remarked. “As we continue to fight for racial equity, be vocal about the comments that make you uncomfortable, find time to volunteer with organizations that fight racial injustice, and engage with groups outside of your sports team to gain more perspectives.”