Exploitation and Profit
In addition to the physical labor that basketball demanded, Claiborne labored emotionally during his time at Duke, putting up with racism “on a personal emotional level.” This included vitriolic hate speech and physical attacks from opposing team players, as well as pressure from Duke University to limit his expression of self.
Exploitation
During his time at Duke, Claudius Claiborne faced pressure from Duke University, both individuals and the athletic program, to submit to racist policies and demands. As the only Black student-athlete at Duke, he faced subjugation from the athletic program and the university at the same time. Being raised in Danville, Virginia, was a critical part of Claiborne's resistance to this pressure. He continued to wear his hair in an afro, organize with other Black students, and protest for racial justice on campus. Claiborne was condemned by the white university and the general white public during his time at Duke for his activism. Claiborne's contribution to the athletic program and Duke in general were undermined by white narratives, which called Claiborne 'lucky' to play for Duke and framed him as a recipient of Duke's goodwill.
Caption: White news outlets announce Claiborne’s acceptance to the basketball team, using his race as the most important attribute. Sports Information Office Basketball Records 1965-1967, Duke University Archives, Durham, NC.
Profit
Claudius Claiborne’s desegregation of the Duke’s men’s basketball team served to answer criticism that the university faced in the 1960s for not integrating. In 1965, Duke Basketball Coach Waters claimed the main reason for not accepting Black student athletes was a lack of academic qualification amongst Black student athletes. Claiborne contradicts this narrative by displaying a strong academic background as well as athletic skill and creativity.
Claiborne’s experiences paved the way for other Black players, and allowed Duke to project a public image of a desegregated athletic program. His activism while at Duke also assisted in the creation of the Afro-American Society (now the Black Student Alliance) and the Afro-American studies program (now the African and African-American Studies Department).
Stephen Slade and Claudius ‘C.B.’ Claiborne both represent Black skill, intellect, and labor that have been prevalent in the Piedmont region. The ingenuity of the Black community has played an irreplaceable role in the creation of two incredibly profitable ventures, tobacco and basketball.
From the curing of Brightleaf tobacco, represented by Stephen Slade, to the advancement of collegiate basketball, represented by Claudius Claiborne, there is an undeniable relationship between Black labor and the subsequent growth of wealthy white institutions.
