Athletes Making Change

Athletes have been using their positions and public stature to stand up for political and social justice beliefs quite a bit recently. Perhaps the era of the most frequency took place in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Author and historian Dr. Gregory J. Kaliss joins us to discuss this history and his latest book on the subject, Beyond the Black Power Salute: Athlete Activism in an Era of Change.

The folks that have taken the time to do the sometimes painstaking research, interviews, and countless hours at a keyboard to bring us the knowledge and entertainment from their books. These people are experts from the fact that they spent the time to learn about or even experience their subject matter. We enjoy reading their work and picking their brains if given the opportunity, and we now share this woth you.

Dr. Greg Kaliss

Dr. Gregory J. Kaliss is an assistant professor of history at York College of Pennsylvania. He has authored a prior book titled; Men’s College Athletics and the Politics of Racial Equality: Five Pioneer Stories of Black Manliness, White Citizenship, and American Democracy. Greg's blend of mainstream sports and socioeconomic climates tells a side of history many do not even realize is happening.

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Dr. Kaliss examines socioeconomic events triggered in part by athletes demonstrating activism that moved the nation. His book guides readers through the unprecedented wave of protest that swept sports in the 1960s and 1970s. There are stories shared and their results on society on the following:

John Carlos and Tommie Smith Olympic Gold victory and protest by raising of the gloved hands

Jim Brown's Black Economic Union

Muhamad Ali - boxing alliance

Jackie Robinson's efforts of a bank in empoverished neighborhoods

Curt Flood playing a part in igniting pro sports free agency

Women's Rights - Title IX and Switzer and Gibbs sneaking into the Boston Marathon

Billy Jean Kings promotion of the Virginia Slims Tour and head to head match with up against Bobby Riggs

Both the BEU & Virginia Slims were established to bring economic equality through athletic means but had influences beyond what their initial intentions were.

Collegians helping change:

The Braveness of Charlie Scott at UNC to approach the universitie's Chancellor, and especially to not boycott the game so as to keep the door open for others that follwed him.

Wyoma Tyus wearing black shorts to support Carlos and Smith Olympic Gold victory

The little-known story of the University of Wyoming football players suspended for their activism highlights an analysis of protests by college athletes.

Beyond the Black Power Salute

A look at 1960's athletes and their story of helping to change the world with activism. Greg's blend of mainstream sports and socioeconomic climates tells a side of history many do not even realize is happening.

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Here is some further information on some of the people mentioned above from our vast collection of posts to help fully appreciate the sports history and their impact on this subject.

The select few and cream of the crop that are inducted into the legendary baseball museum in Cooperstown, New York.

Jackie Robinson

Born January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, was Baseball Hall of Fame Infielder Jackie Robinson. Robinson is most remembered for breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, which transcended the game into other sports, opening the door in just a few short years for peoples of all races to be able to participate in American professional sports.

During his 10-year MLB career, Robinson won the inaugural Rookie of the Year Award in 1947, was an All-Star for six consecutive seasons from 1949 through 1954, and won the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 1949becoming the first black player honored. Number 42 played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Series championship. MLB Jersey Number 42

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A select few NFL players are selected to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Jim Brown

Born February 17, 1936, in St Simons, Georgia, was the all time great running back Jim Brown. When you talk about a player that rewrote the record books, Jim Brown’s name has to be at the top of the list. The FootballFoundation.org website shares that Brown in 1956 had a season where his rushing yards per game read something like 197 yards, 162, 155, 154 & 151 yards! He ended up with 986 yards for the season ranking him third in the nation and giving him the nod for unanimous All-America status. But that wasn’t it for “First Down Brown’s” scoring though as he also kicked for Syracuse. This is made evident at the Colgate game in 1956 when Jim scored six touchdowns and kicked seven extra points. That was a total of 43 points in a 61-7 game. Jim Brown easily won on the ballot to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. The Cleveland Browns wasted no time at all to make Jim their first round pick in the 1957 NFL Draft per the ProFootballHOF.com site. Brown played all nine of his years as a pro in Cleveland ammasssing 12312 yards rushing and 15459 total accumulated yards. The powerful back scored 756 points in those nine years in the NFL and played in a Pro Bowl every season in the League including being selected as the 1957 Rookie of the Year. Jim was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in three different seasons! The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971’s ceremonies enshrined Jim Brown into their Canton, Ohio Museum of legends. Learn more about this awesome athlete in the video and articles bookmarked below.

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Greatest running back in football history - Cleveland 101 ‣ Jim Brown

Jim Brown, byname of James Nathaniel Brown, (born February 17, 1936, St. Simons, Georgia, U.S.), outstanding American professional gridiron football player who led the National Football League (NFL) in rushing for eight of his nine seasons. He was the dominant player of his era and was considered one of the best running backs of all time. He later found success as an actor. In high school and at Syracuse University in New York, Brown displayed exceptional all-around athletic ability, excelling

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How Good Was Jim Brown Actually? ‣ Jim Brown

Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns football player, is arguably the greatest running back in NFL football history and maybe the greatest player ever.

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Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site ‣ Jim Brown

Jim Brown is widely considered the most dominant football player to ever live. Blazing speed combined with brutalizing power, his game is like a mythical bei...

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Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com ‣ Jim Brown

Checkout the latest stats for Jim Brown. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.^**

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Legacy of Number 44 at Syracuse University spans decades ‣ Jim Brown

Ernie Davis' jersey is retired at Syracuse University.^**

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We thank the University of Illinois Press and Dr Greg Kaliss for sending us a copy of the book to pre-read in order to prepare for the conversation, as well as Dr. Kaliss spending the time to share this great story.