Game Changers

This book, organized around key periods in the history of African American sports from the turn of the twentieth century to today, looks at the role of athletes and sports and their impact on American culture both on and off the field. While the major sports in which African Americans participate most frequently—football, basketball, baseball, and boxing—are prominently featured, the book also includes images of male and female athletes, amateur and professional, competing in gymnastics, track and field, skiing, golf, tennis, and other sports. Photographers include Ernest C. Withers, Roderick J. Lyons, Walter Iooss Jr., Maurice Sorrell, and Moneta Sleet Jr., among others.

Images of iconic moments in sports history—Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries during the 1910 “Fight of the Century,” Jackie Robinson stealing home in 1952, and Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in 2016—are featured alongside photographs of more personal moments, including Larry Doby teaching his son how to hold a bat, Wilt Chamberlain in class at the University of Kansas, Wilma Rudolph standing outside her foundation, Muhammad Ali in conversation with Fannie Lou Hammer, and a young Venus Williams smiling after a practice session.

“The photos in this collection represent a significant part of my journalism life. Game Changers is a visual masterpiece that honors the extraordinary legacy of African American athletes who have shaped the course of history. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has curated a collection that goes beyond the game, highlighting the courage, determination, and cultural influence of these trailblazers. Each photograph tells a story of perseverance and triumph, offering readers an intimate glimpse into the moments that defined not just careers, but entire eras. This book is an essential tribute to the power of sport as a catalyst for social change, and a testament to the athletes who have inspired and uplifted generations.—William C. Rhoden, columnist for ESPN’s “Andscape,” the author of Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete and Third and a Mile, and director of the Rhoden Fellows, a training program for aspiring journalists from HBCUs

Introduction by Damion L. Thomas and David K. Wiggins
Contribution by Domonique Foxworth
Edited by Michèle Gates Moresi and Laura Coyle
Foreword by Kevin Young

Double Exposure is a dynamic series based on the notable photography collection supporting the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

Author biographies

Damion L. Thomas PhD is curator of sports at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
David K. Wiggins PhD is professor emeritus of sport studies at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA
Domonique Foxworth is a writer, commentator, retired American football cornerback and former president of the National Football League Players Association

Table of contents

• Foreword by Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Playing to Win by Damion L. Thomas and David K. Wiggins
• Run, Jab, Float by Domonique Foxworth
• Photographs
• Index