Beyond the Field

Sports and Social Change

  • Taking the knee

    When thinking of sports activism in the 21st century, one of the first names to come to mind, or the first name generated by google, is Colin Kaepernick.  Following in the footsteps of several famous predecessors from the 1960s, including Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Kaepernick took a stand against a…

  • Sports and Activism

    Without the continuous onslaught of assignments over the summer, I was able to reconnect with my passion for watching sports. On numerous occasions I found myself screaming and cheering for strangers on my television as they swam or raced across the screen. I felt genuine joy at their wins during medal ceremonies and true heartbreak…

Game Changers

Sports and sports broadcasting boasts a widespread audience across the globe, solidifying the impact athletes have on their followers and the general public. ‘Game Changers’ refer to those sportsmen who have used their platform to bring attention to social issues or advocate for social change, often times at the risk of their careers, public image and slander. The aim of this blog is to give recognition to the power of sports to unite people and influence society.

“Sports have the power to change the world. They have the power to inspire. They have the power to unite people in a way that little else does.” – Nelson Mandela

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/sport-is-political-how-athletes-are-keeping-human-rights-center-stage-at-the-olympics