Acknowledgments

I want to thank my wife, Gisell, for helping me with this book project. The encouragement, she gave during this process was invaluable. I want to also recognize the Bennett, Brame, and Jeter families for their continued support over the years, and I offer a special recognition to Robert A. Bennett, Jr., Harry Weaver III, Abayomi Brame, Tracey and Kenyatta Brame, Dr. Hasan Jeffries, Maurice Clarett, Daniel Herron, Walter Beach, Jim Brown, John Wooten, Brigman Owens, and Curtis McClinton for the encouragement and insight provided for this edited volume. I also want to thank my team at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (e.g., Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male) and the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University for its support.

To the series editor (i.e., Dr. Henry T. Frierson), Emerald Publishing editorial staff (i.e., Sharon Parkinson), the other volume editors (i.e., Drs. Samuel R. Hodge, David L. Graham, and James L. Moore III), and the brilliant authors who submitted chapters, thank you for making my first book project a major success. Watching the volume come together has been a beautiful experience. It is my hope that this edited volume contributes to the social science literature on black male student-athletes and that it inspires scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to work to improve the life successes for Black male student-athletes.

Robert A. Bennett III

Grateful acknowledgment is made to Robert A. Bennett III, lead editor of this volume, for his leadership, organization, and vision in the construction of this book project. Moreover, it is important to acknowledge the combined efforts of David L. Graham and James L. Moore III, co-editors of the volume, and the important contributions of each and every author of the various chapters.

Samuel R. Hodge

First, I would like to thank God and my family for their support and guidance over the years. Also, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Co-editors Drs. Robert A. Bennett, Samuel R. Hodge, and James L. Moore III for including me in this most needed effort. In addition, I would like to thank the many authors who made this edited volume possible.

David L. Graham

From elementary school to college, athletics was a major part of my life. It afforded me and many other African American males across the nation the opportunity to attend college and participate in intercollegiate athletics. As a former college student-athlete and now higher education scholar and administrator, I believe that I am able to offer some important insights on what works and what needs to change for African American males in intercollegiate athletics. As you can imagine, an edited volume of this magnitude could never be achieved without the support and encouragement from others.

With this in mind, I want to thank my beloved wife, Stephanie M. Moore, and three outstanding children, James L. Moore IV, Sienna Ava Moore, and Savanna Marie-Ann Moore, for providing the needed support, space, and time to complete this edited volume. Second, I want to acknowledge other family members (i.e., Marcus T. Moore, Dr. S. Rochelle Sullivan, Weston Miles Sullivan, WC Anderson, Frances Anderson, and Kenneth L. E. Anderson) for their unwavering support and encouragement with this book project and other professional and personal endeavors. Third, I want to recognize my former teachers, coaches, mentors, and professors for investing in my educational and non-educational pursuits. Fourth, I offer a special thanks to my staff, students, and donors at the Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male at The Ohio State University, as well as my staff, colleagues, and supporters in both the Office of the Diversity and Inclusion and the College of Education and Human Ecology. Fifth, I want to express my appreciation to my book series editor (i.e., Dr. Henry T. Frierson) and the Emerald Group Publishing Limited team for helping us to put this book project together. Sixth, I want to thank my co-editors (i.e., Drs. Robert A. Bennett III, Samuel R. Hodge, and David L. Graham) for all of their hard work and commitment to this edited volume. Sixth and most importantly, I want to express a special thanks to my Creator for the opportunity to work on book projects, such as this one.

James L. Moore III