Podcast
On the Shoulders of Giants
Source:
NPR: Throughline
February 19, 2019
Category:
Sports Activism
When Colin Kaepernick stopped standing for the national anthem at NFL games it sparked a nationwide conversation about patriotism and police brutality. Black athletes using their platform to protest injustice has long been a tradition in American history. In this episode we explore three stories of protest that are rarely told but essential to understanding the current debate: the heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson, the sprinter Wilma Rudolph, and the basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. (NPR)
Isaiah's Description:
This is one of my favorite podcast episodes out there. As an undergrad, I tailored some of my communications coursework to study sports activism. I spent a semester studying social movements and analyzing the 2016 #takeaknee movement. As the pandemic winds down, the Black Lives Matter movement grows, and sports look to return, having an understanding of the history of sports activism will be ever important.
Sports is yet another institution, like that of criminal justice or education, that has foundations and a history of racial injustice. Since the times of the earliest sports, the role of athletes, especially black athletes, has been exploitative. Narratives like "shut up and dribble" and "get that son of a b*tch off the field" reflect the subservient nature that has dominated sports throughout its history. Athletes like Colin Kaepernick and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf have been blackballed by there leagues and organizations for using their platforms for advocacy.
This episode is a great first step for those who want to familiarize themselves with the history and intersectionality of black athletes and activism. The themes of exploitation, censorship, and blackballing extend beyond the realm of sports to other institutions. These themes can help build a larger understanding of racial inequality.