When Colin Kaepernick stopped standing for the national anthem at NFL games it sparked a nationwide conversation about patriotism and police brutality. Black athletes using their platform to protest injustice has long been a tradition in American history. In this episode we explore three stories of protest that are rarely told but essential to understanding the current debate: the heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson, the sprinter Wilma Rudolph, and the basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.