Beyond the Black Power Salute

This book explores the wide-ranging nature of athlete activism, concentrating on the period between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s. As the nation grappled with a series of upheavals regarding race, gender, sexuality, the economy, and war, sports became enmeshed in a wide range of protest activities and activism. Moving beyond the famous medal stand protest at the 1968 Olympics, this book spotlights several key moments and trends related to boxing, women’s tennis, college and professional football and basketball, distance running, track and field, and baseball. A wide range of sources illuminate these stories: memoirs, firsthand accounts, biographies, popular music, poetry, and, most critically, media coverage. Mainstream media sources, including newspapers, television interviews, and magazines, in addition to alternative media sources such as African American and left-wing newspapers and magazines, provide rich and varied perspectives on athletes’ efforts to challenge systemic racism, fight for economic equality, contest gender norms, and build community support and pride for minority groups. By focusing on the actions of both African American athletes and women athletes, these examples showcase a wide range of athlete activist efforts and draw connections between events and individuals in different sports and locations across the country. Together, they show what changes took place, what obstacles remained, and highlight the potentials and limitations of sports to effect social transformation in American life.