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Six athlete protests that changed history

By Dave Stevenson

Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medalists in the 200-meter run at the 1968 Olympic Games, engage in a victory stand protest against unfair treatment of blacks in the United States. With heads lowered and black-gloved fists raised in the black power salute, they refuse to recognize the American flag and national anthem. Australian Peter Norman is the silver medalist.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medalists in the 200-meter run at the 1968 Olympic Games, engage in a victory stand protest against unfair treatment of blacks in the United States. With heads lowered and black-gloved fists raised in the black power salute, they refuse to recognize the American flag and national anthem. Australian Peter Norman is the silver medalist. /
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27th May 1963: American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) lying on his hotel bed in London. He holds up five fingers in a prediction of how many rounds it will take him to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper. (Photo by Len Trievnor/Express/Getty Images)
27th May 1963: American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) lying on his hotel bed in London. He holds up five fingers in a prediction of how many rounds it will take him to knock out British boxer Henry Cooper. (Photo by Len Trievnor/Express/Getty Images) /

Colin Kaepernick is hardly the first athlete to take part in a protest. Here are six others who did.

Athletes often find themselves in a very unique position of power. The spotlight is eternally on them, giving them the opportunity to be positive influences on society and inspire change. Not all choose to use that power, which is fine. Being an instrument of social change is a very difficult task, and one that is rarely rewarding. It’s a duty that not every athlete is fit to do.

In recent years, sportspersons fans know and love have become more open about their beliefs. That trend that started many years ago. For about as long as professional sports have been around, there have been athletes prepared to create change and take a stand.

Before we start, let’s honor some luminaries who helped change the world for the better. Jackie Robinson is well known as being the man who broke the color barrier in baseball as the first African-American player since Moses “Fleetwood” Walker in 1884. Robinson’s teammate, Pee Wee Reese is rarely given the credit he deserves for accepting Robinson as his teammate. This came at a time when racism was the norm. Reese refused to conform and his acceptance significantly helped Robinson become accepted.

Colin Kaepernick deserves to be applauded for doing what he knew was necessary to get his very relevant point across. He is likely putting his career on the line to do so. It is hardly a selfish act because the plight of African-Americans in the United States is well documented. Racism builds barriers in society to this day. People like Kaepernick are why those barriers are steadily falling down. America has issues with racism and people like Kaepernick refuse to be content with it.

But Kaepernick is hardly the first athlete to use his position of power to create positive change.  Here are six other protests that made a difference.

Next: 6. Martha Burk