With Election Day in the US next week, what role does sports play in politics? I’ve heard people say: “Leave politics out of sports.” This view is usually expressed when those people feel uncomfortable by or disagree with causes advocated by athletes, sports teams, or sports leagues. The fact is that athletes too have the fundamental right of freedom of expression.
The history of activism in sports dates back to the beginning of time and has been pivotal in helping sports become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Below are three articles that focus on this history and how it has helped sports for the better.
The long, defiant history of sports protests: How athletes from Kathrine Switzer and Toni Smith to Jackie Robinson and LeBron James have used their platform to spotlight issues such as foreign policy, gender equality, and racial justice and chosen ceremonial moments to take a stand.
The origin of the Black Power fist: During the 1968 Olympics 200-meter track medal ceremony in Mexico City, two African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who had won gold and bronze respectively, kept their hands raised until the anthem had finished. Read about what happened afterwards.
A new standard for sports activism: Go back to July 2016 to find out why WNBA athletes risked professional and financial backlash to make their statement, including Maya Moore who took a hiatus from the sport at her peak to free someone wrongfully convicted.