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- John Taylor. Many famous black athletes have represented their country in the Olympics, including Muhammad Ali (as Cassius Clay), Jesse Owens, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and the list goes on and on.
- Larry Doby. In every Major League ballpark the number 42 is displayed prominently, the only player’s number to have been permanently retired by Major League Baseball.
- Earl Lloyd. As hard as it is to believe today, when the National Basketball Association was founded in 1946 it was an all-white league, by choice of the founding owners.
- Jesse Owens. Jesse Owens is well remembered as the American track star who singlehandedly foiled Adolf Hitler’s plan to use the 1936 Olympic Games to demonstrate Aryan supremacy to the rest of the world.
Feb 9, 2012 · As time progressed, there become exceptional athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, who further solidified African-Americans' place among the best to ever play in their respective...
- NFL: Kenny Washington and Woody Strode
- NBA: Chuck Cooper, Nat ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton and Earl Lloyd
- NHL: Willie O’Ree
- PGA: Charlie Sifford
- Tennis: Althea Gibson
- NASCAR: Wendell Scott
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From 1934 to 1945, National Football League owners made an informal pact to not sign Black players to any of the league’s teams. In 1946, less than a year after Branch Rickey signed Robinson to play for the Dodgers’ farm team, the Los Angeles Rams signed two Black players, Kenny Washingtonand Woody Strode. The move came after pressure from Black jo...
A trio of Black men integrated the hardwoods of the National Basketball Association. In 1950, Chuck Cooper, a former star player at Duquesne University and a Harlem Globetrotter, became thefirst African American drafted into the NBA when the Boston Celtics took him as the 13th overall draft pick. On May 24, 1950, the New York Knicks signed another ...
On January 18, 1958, Willie O’Ree, a 22-year-old Black Canadian, made his NHL debutwith the Boston Bruins in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. O’Ree, the first Black athlete in the NHL, played two seasons in the league, both with the Bruins. He played just 45 games, notching four goals. Three years before joining the Bruins, O’Ree had lost vis...
At the peak of his career in the 1950s, Charlie Sifford was a top player on the all-Black United Golf Association Tour, winning tournaments that included leading white golf professionals. But he couldn’t qualify to be a card-carrying member of the PGA Tour with the best players in the world. The reason: The PGA of America’s bylaws contained a “Cauc...
Althea Gibson made history as the first Black woman to play on both the women’s tennis circuit and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), but she’s best remembered for breaking through in the lily-white tennis world of the 1950s, where she ultimately won 11 grand slam titles. The Harlem native started her ascent to the top echelon of the ...
Between 1961 and 1973, Wendell Scott, a mechanic and World War II veteran, drove in 495 races on the NASCARcircuit. On December 1, 1963, Scott won at the Jacksonville, Florida Speedway, becoming the first African American to win a NASCAR race. However, he wasn’t declared the winner until hours later because race promoters didn’t want him to appear ...
Learn about the pioneers who broke racial barriers in baseball, football, basketball, hockey, tennis, motorsports and golf after WWII. From Jackie Robinson to Willie O'Ree, these athletes faced racism and discrimination to pave the way for future generations.
- Farrell Evans
- 1 min
Jan 29, 2021 · These Black athletes broke barriers, represented their communities and made history with their impressive athletic skills.
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee. A six-time Olympic medalist, Jackie Joyner-Kersee is one of track and field's most decorated athletes. Joyner-Kersee also won four world championships.
- Willie Mays. Ted Williams once said they invented the MLB All-Star Game for Willie Mays. A 24-time All-Star, Mays is one of baseball's most accomplished players, but he also advocated for Black American athletes during his career.
- Laila Ali. An undefeated world boxing champion, Laila Ali sought to change perceptions of women in prizefighting. As the daughter of Muhammad Ali, Laila Ali's fights drew more media attention to women's boxing.
- Muhammad Ali. Few American athletes have had an impact on society like Muhammad Ali. Born Cassius Clay, Ali, who converted to Islam, was a standout boxing champion who mastered the art of the interview and was not afraid to speak out against issues he deemed unjust.
Feb 19, 2024 · Throughout history, Black athletes have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of sports, not only by breaking records and winning medals but also by challenging racial barriers and advocating for equality and justice.
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Feb 2, 2022 · Who are most influential Black people in sports? USA TODAY Sports ranks them for Black History Month
