In the News: Athletes and Activism

October 5, 2017 | melissa c

The books featured below include stories of athletes who, either by choice or by circumstance, found themselves involved in one or more social issues of the day. If you're looking for children's books on the topic, check out the materials at end of the list. 

Ways of grace : stories of activism, adversity, and how sports can bring us together by James Blake
Sting like a bee : Muhammad Ali vs. the United States of America, 1966-1971 by Leigh Montville
Also available in: e-book
Writings on the wall : searching for a new equality beyond black and white by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Silent gesture : the autobiography of Tommie Smith by Tommie Smith
Heroes of conscience : a biographical dictionary by Kathlyn Gay
A necessary spectacle : Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs, and the tennis match that leveled the game by Selena Roberts
King of the court : Bill Russell and the basketball revolution by Aram Goudsouzian
Jackie Robinson : an integrated life by J. Christopher Schutz
Jackie Robinson: My Own Story [electronic resource] by Jackie Robinson
Wonder girl : the magnificent sporting life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias by Don Van Natta
Also available in: e-audiobook
A kind of grace : the autobiography of the world's greatest female athlete by Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee
America's girl : the incredible story of how swimmer Gertrude Ederle changed the nation by Tim Dahlberg
Babe conquers the world : the legendary life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias by Rich Wallace
Ladies first : women athletes who made a difference by Ken Rappoport
Who was Jackie Robinson? by Gail Herman
Also available in: e-book | e-audiobook
Billie Jean King : the Battle of the Sexes and Title IX by Kate Shoup
Who is Muhammad Ali? by James Buckley
Also available in: e-book
Arthur Ashe by Jennifer Strand

Describes the life and career of Arthur Ashe, including his childhood, the racial issues he faced as a professional athlete, and his legacy.