Duke University men’s basketball is one of the most storied programs in basketball history; however, the program has a complicated history and relationship with Black America.

This team set out to explore this history through the story of Claudius B. (“C.B.”) Claiborne, Duke’s first Black student-athlete and a member of the Duke men’s basketball team. By focusing on C.B.’s story, which includes active participation in the struggle for Black liberation on campus and the Allen Building Takeover, the team examined both the individual experience of the first Black student-athlete on campus as well as the institutional and national histories of Black activism and sports. 

Drawing on work begun by a 2022 Story+ team, team members produced a documentary short film on C.B.’s story and legacy, which centers the role of sports, specifically the Duke men’s basketball program, and race in the life of the university.

Learn more about this team's work by reading their team profile.

Timing

Fall 2023 – Summer 2024

Team Outputs

Documentary film (to debut in Fall 2024)

Resource and discussion guide

C.B. Claiborne and Duke Hoops (Team profile; 2024 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase)

Race and Sports: C.B. Claiborne and Duke Men's Black Basketball History (Interactive display presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 17, 2024)

This Team in the News

Meet the 2024 Commencement Ceremony Honorary Degree Recipients

New Project Teams Will Delve Into Duke’s History to Mark the Centennial

Photo courtesy of Duke Athletics