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The term, Athlete Activism, refers to professional and amateur athletes of any sport, who use their position as a platform for activism. These athletes use their popularity and publicity role as an "opportunity to be a positive influence on society and inspire change". Athlete Activism is also extremely controversial from a sports fan perspective because of the mixing of politics in the business of sport. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and athlete activist himself, writes "Fans want to indulge in the escapism of the sport without the heavy baggage of real life interfering". For others, Athlete Activism is a positive use of an athlete's status, and that society should welcome athletes who step out of their roles as entertainers to express their opinions on societal issues. Throughout history, there have been countless examples of athletes who have spoken against or for certain societal issues, most of which had to do with controversies surrounding race, religion, and gender. Famous examples of athlete activism include stars such as Jackie Robinson, Muhammed Ali, Roberto Clemente, and more recently, Colin Kaepernick along with other NFL protests. Mixing sports and politics is considered not to be ideal, especially from a fan perspective, and therefore many athletes who speak out on certain issues are also scrutinized publicly.

The rise of digital media (including social media) has sparked a new way for athletes to engage in activism with the masses, and ignite change in society.

Early Athlete Activists
Athletes play an essential role in the support for equal rights and various movements related to the fight for social inequality, particularly in the United States. Historically, professional athletes are known to show courage and break from the norm by using their star power to promote the social and political movements that they stand for. These important activists have set the tone for many athletes in the sport's world today who continue to follow suit, becoming symbols for change in the world.

Jackie Robinson
Aside from being a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB), Jackie Robinson was a leader in the civil rights movement fighting for racial equality. Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, breaking the color barrier in the MLB. Brooklyn's signing of Robinson helped establish a base for African-Americans in the fight for racial equality. His presence in the Majors had a mostly positive response, but some media and players continued to criticize the move to include a black player on a Major league roster. Some historians have argued that Robinson's career in baseball was insignificant to the advancement of the civil rights movement, claiming that they are separate entities from one another. Nevertheless, Robinson's addition to baseball was one that challenged racial segregation in professional sports. His struggles in baseball were directly related to the problem of racial inequality, especially for those of black decent, and he inspired many young African-Americans to become involved in the world of sport.

In 2013, a film about Robinson's life and career called "42", was released. The film, directed by Brian Helgeland, documents the beginning of Robinson's career in 1946 and 1947, and portrays his struggle as an African-American athlete in a sport dominated by whites. The film has received criticism over inaccuracies related to the "broader civil rights struggle", and the overall "political victory" that gathered from Robinson's career in baseball. More specifically, it did not fully represent Robinson's impact in the civil rights movement and how his actions supported this movement.

Muhammad Ali


Muhammad Ali, born as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., was known for his presence in the sport of boxing, but he is also famous for his social and religious activism. In 1967, Ali famously refused to join the United States Army, and not serve in the Vietnam War. Along with an increasing number of Americans at the time, Ali was against the war and America's involvement in it. However, America's protest against the war did not gather much support till 2 months after Ali was convicted for "draft dodging" in June 1967. He was heavily criticized for his thoughts and views on racial tension in America, as well as his transition to the Islamic religion. His stature in sport, and his refusal to join the military essentially made him a popular political activist in America. Ali's refusal to serve, was at the time, very controversial since support for the war was at a high point; with the war's approval rating over 50 per cent. His lack of interest to fight against the Viet Cong, and to "openly decry the war", was considered "blasphemous" by many Americans, since he was such a high profile athlete.

Ali refused to serve the US military "on the grounds that he was a practicing Muslim minister with religious beliefs that prevented him from fighting". He converted from Christianity to Islam in 1964, after learning about the "militant Islamic freedom fighter", Malcolm X. Subsequently, he changed his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali. He further referred to "Cassius Clay" as his slave name, saying that "I didn't choose it and I don't want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name — it means 'beloved of God' — and I insist people use it when people speak to me and of me". His contact with American-born Muslim preachers, such as Malcolm X, allowed him to become involved with the group, Nation of Islam (NOI). Ali used his status as a popular athlete to help promote the views of the NOI, which expressed mixed views from the "belief system" of Islam and Black Nationalism. After his arrest for draft evasion of U.S. military service, Ali was famously quoted saying, "War is against the teachings of the Holy Quran. I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don't take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers". Ali took the stance of a conscientious objector as a black Muslim, and was later convicted for his refusal of induction into the U.S. Army. In 1975, Ali would leave NOI, while also denouncing the group's teachings, particularly its view that "white people are devils".

Ali's stance against the Vietnam war was not only due to religious principles, but also to challenge white supremacy. Ali was an extremely popular symbol for civil right movement because of his accomplishments in sport. A major reason for Ali's stance against conscription into the U.S. military had to do with racial divide that was present in America at the time. Ali was against fighting the wars started by the "white man". and he believed that the American government tried to get racial minorities to fight these wars. However, his stance on race relations and the U.S. military were not generally supported by black Americans at the time of his refusal to serve in Vietnam. Jackie Robinson, an athlete activist himself, stated "He’s hurting, I think, the morale of a lot of young Negro soldiers over in Vietnam". After Ali's arrest in 1967, many thought Ali's career might be over. He continuously faced public pressure to accept service into the military, and apologize for his anti-war comments, which he ultimately declined. Eventually, Ali's promotion of his ideas would gain him many followers in the fight for the equal rights of minorities in America. In particular, black youth began to stand behind Ali's beliefs, as he dedicated his boxing career to help the lives of people living in American "ghettos". He said, "I'm gonna fight for the prestige, not for me, but to uplift my little brothers who are sleeping on concrete floors today in America. Black people who are living on welfare, black people who can't eat, black people who don't know no knowledge of themselves, black people who don't have no future". In 1971, after many appeals, the Supreme Court decided to overturn his conviction and soon after, his boxing career was revived. Ali adopted himself into American youth culture, as he became a popular symbol for change and an idol that many young Americans would aspire to be.

Muhammad Ali's athlete activism is still considered to be the most productive in terms of social change, and is recognized as unmatched by any athlete because of the great risks associated with Ali's career as a boxer and his personal life during his time of activism.

Billie Jean King


Billie Jean King is an American former professional tennis player who is also openly lesbian. She is regarded as "a pioneer for being the first prominent professional female athlete to come out as a lesbian". In 1981, she "came out of the closet", after she had been sued for palimony by a former girlfriend. Although unwillingly at first, she became a role model for gay athletes everywhere, due to her success on the tennis court and her presence in the sport of tennis. King had felt ashamed to announce her sexuality, but her openness would "pave the way for future athletes to come".

King was also an advocate for social change and gender equality in the world of sport. In the 1960's and 70's, women's tennis was viewed as less established and less competitive than men's, and therefore tennis establishments could not justify equal pay to female tennis players because they figured attendance would not be as high as in a men's game. In a response to this, King founded the Women's Tennis Association, as well as the Women's Sports Foundation, which is an organization meant to encourage female involvement in sport. King's legacy is ultimately defined through her feminist views which have led to the success of women's tennis. Today, women's tennis is as popular as men's, and female tennis players are paid just about the same as their male counterparts.

King's success and advocacy for female sports was specifically instrumental in "making it acceptable for American women to exert themselves in pursuits other than childbirth". Her contributions to women's tennis can be seen as a way of challenging gender inequality. One of her well-documented wins came against Bobby Riggs, the number one tennis player in the world in 1946 and 1947. King versus Riggs was a part of "The Battle of the Sexes" tournament on September 20, 1973 in Houston. Subsequently, King would win over Riggs, claiming victory not only for herself, but for all women. She is quoted as saying, "I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn't win that match - It would ruin the women's tour and affect all women's self esteem". To add, her success in tennis had made it more acceptable for women across the globe to pursue the life of a "jock".

In 1990, Billie Jean King was listed in Life Magazine's 100 Most Important Americans in the 20th Century, in which she was the only female athlete on this list.

St. Louis Rams
On November 30, 2014, in a game against the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, five players from the St. Louis Rams football club marched out onto the field with their hands up in the air. The gesture performed by these players is known as "Hands up, don't shoot", which developed after the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Out of all the St. Louis sports teams, the Rams were the only ones to make a statement against this incident of police brutality. One of the five players, Kenny Britt spoke about their gesture of solidarity, saying "I don’t want the people in the community to feel like we turned a blind eye to it - What would I like to see happen? Change in America". Britt would also add that the gesture was "organized for a good cause", and that he hopes "something positive comes out of it" for the community. Jared Cook, another player involved in the protest also spoke out by saying, "we wanted to come out and show our respect to the protests and the people who have been doing a heck of a job around the world". The Rams football club also supported its player's right to protest in this case.

The gesture received a sour response from the St. Louis Police Department, who felt disrespected by the football club and its players. The police force's leaders said when meeting with team officials that, "The players chose to ignore the mountains of evidence released from the St. Louis County Grand Jury this week", in regards to the outcome of Darren Wilson's trial, who was ultimately found not guilty of the murder of Michael Brown. The activism displayed here by these Rams players triggered a wave of free speech discussion on social media platforms and on cable news networks across America.

NFL Anthem Protests 2016
During the 2016 NFL season, numerous players were recognized for their protest of the US national anthem. These protests, despite much controversy, have spread to other North American sports leagues. Many athletes from across the United States have since shown their support for anthem protests. For fans, the protests have generated mixed reactions, but they have been blamed for an 11 per cent decline in NFL viewership.

The NFL has posted a statement on the anthem controversy to which they said, "Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem". The NFL has acknowledged that their players have the right to freedom of expression, which they have exercised through their protest of the U.S. national anthem.

Colin Kaepernick


In the 2016 NFL preseason, Colin Kaepernick, started a streak of protests against the US anthem when he took a knee during the pre-game ceremonies. However, his protests were not brought into the national spotlight until week 1 of the regular season, when the San Fransisco 49ers hosted the Los Angeles Rams. His protests were in light of the oppression of minorities in the United States, particularly a recent string of "wrongdoings against African Americans". He is quoted as saying, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color - To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder". Kaepernick's protests have made many American's think about the reason why they stand for the Anthem, because despite the criticism he's received, more Americans are discussing the issues at hand. Kaepernick has continued to kneel for the pre-game anthem during every regular season game in 2016.

Kaepernick's actions have gained support from many other athletes in North America despite the controversy that has come with it. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA chimed in on Kaepernick's stand, "Me standing for the national anthem is something I will do - That's who I am. That's what I believe in. But that doesn't mean I don't respect and don't believe in what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion, and he's doing it in the most peaceful way I've ever seen someone do something". Many other athletes are showing their support for Kaepernick's protest, not specifically by taking a knee, but by finding ways to improve communities and encourage conversation about racial inequality in America. Kaepernick has commented on the support he has received, quote: "I haven’t really focused on that too much because part of the oppressive system is you’re going to have that backlash for trying to fight for people, and that was something I was fully prepared for, fully aware of, so when those things came, it was expected. It wasn’t an issue for me. The support is really what to me was huge and really gave me excitement, gave me life, as far as people are seeing this the same way I am, and now we can help create change". Kaepernick has gone as far as to say that he does not care about endorsement deals and he is willing to take the risks his protests has on his job as a football player. In reference to Kaepernick's stance, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar writes that "We should admire those who risk personal gain in the service of promoting the values of their country".

Kaepernick has received severe backlash from many fans and the media, who are labelling him as "unpatriotic" and "treasonous". In a road game against the Buffalo Bills on November 2016, many fans displayed their displeasure in Kaepernick's kneeling of the National Anthem. Particular incidents even included beer throwing in the direct of Kaepernick. When asked about the Bill's fans pre-game chant of "U-S-A" and hostility towards him, Kaepernick responded "I don’t understand what’s un-American about fighting for liberty and justice for everybody, for the equality this country says it stands for,” Kaepernick told reporters. “To me, I see it as very patriotic and American to uphold the United States to the standards that it says it lives by".

NBA
During the 2014 season, in the wake of Eric Garner's death, many athletes from the NBA wore shirts in pre-game warmups that read, "I Can't Breathe", which were the final words Garner muttered before his death. Garner was one of many black men who had been recently killed in a string of police brutality cases across the United States. Players attempted to show support for Garner's family, while at the same time, silently promote peace and social justice. Most notably, players such as Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving, and Lebron James were among the many who silently protested this incident of police brutality. Carlos Boozer who played for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014 said, "We just, as a team, wanted to step up and show our support for the community - We're not 'promoting criminals.' That's not what it's about. We're promoting humanity. We can treat each other better, regardless of what the situation is."

Global Athletes and Social Media Activism
The rise of social media platforms, such as Twitter has given athletes worldwide a new medium for discussing significant political and social issues. Athletes are using hashtag activism, and other social media concepts to provoke positive changes. Many athletes came to the support of the Black Lives Matter movement through social media, by tweeting out against police brutality and trying to be an advocate for social change in the matter. Athletes such as LeBron James, Duke Ihenacho, and Chris Baker have all been noted in the social media conversation against police violence.

Athlete hashtag activism has also received criticism as well for it's enabling of slacktivism. Mark Ingram II of the New Orleans Saints tweeted, "Hashtags aren't enough. Justice for _____ isn't enough. We have to stop this together. We have to love and respect each other. This is cray". Social media is questioned as a true form of participation, as many believe that social change cannot happen simply through social media activism. Athletes are criticized for not doing more in their communities other than social media activism, when they are in the position where they can make significant change. Activist Mel Hamilton has said, "I think a more direct form of participation – being there – is more important, more powerful. Social media is fine if that’s all you can do. If you can do more, man, you should do more".