Platforms for Protest: When Black Athletes Speak Up
Black athletes have a history of using their platforms—whether it be in the endzone, above the rim, up against the ropes, or at press conferences—to speak their truth to power. From the image of two Black male track athletes with fists in the air at the 1968 Olympics, to LeBron James being told to “shut up and dribble” by a prominent white female news anchor after he discussed politics, the voices of Black athletes make an impact.
In this talk, discover the historic and contemporary protests by Black athletes, and discuss the definitions, goals, and approaches to protest in the African American community.
Speaker Bio
LaToya Brackett is an associate professor of African American studies at the University of Puget Sound, where she also serves as a member of the leadership team for the Race & Pedagogy Institute. A scholar with two degrees in Black studies, one from Cornell University and the other from Michigan State, she is an interdisciplinarian who centers the Black experience.
LaToya lives in Tacoma.