Athlete and Activist: 28 Sports Stars Who Changed the Game

Time and again, great athletes seem to do the impossible. Their skills amaze us. Their work ethic inspires awe. Their talent is next level. At the same time, an athlete's fame gives them a platform to speak out on important issues. With words and actions, a basketball star or Olympic legend can reach millions of people with their message.

Athlete and Activist highlights sports figures who risked their popularity and even their careers to stand against injustice. Each profile takes readers inside the issues that motivated an athlete's activism. Striking portraits by award-winning illustrator Martin French add a visual dimension to the dramatic stories. Throughout, the authors show athletes using different kinds of activism. Some spoke out. Others performed silent gestures. Still others let their success speak for itself.

A different kind of sports history, Athlete and Activist is an inspiring look at heroic acts beyond our favorite games.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Published: 10/06/2026
ISBN: 9780252059919
Pages: 152