The Crossover: A Brief History of Basketball and Race, from James Naismith to LeBron James

by Doug Merlino

The history of basketball contains all the drama inherent in America's long struggle with racial intolerance and quest for equality. In ten focused chapters that highlight characters both famous (Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird) and more obscure (John McLendon, Earl Lloyd, Holcombe Rucker), this book explores how what's happened on the basketball court has mirrored race relations in the United States--and often preceded changes off of it.Doug Merlino has contributed to publications including Slate, Men's Journal, Wired and the Seattle Times. His book, The One Team and Ten Lives in Black and White, won the 2011 Washington State Book Award. He lives in New York City. In the summer, he can often be found watching basketball at Rucker Park in Harlem or at "the cage" at West 4th Street.

72 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2011

About the author

I’m a journalist and writer who has contributed to or worked at news organizations including Slate, Legal Affairs, Men’s Journal, Wired, the Seattle Times, the Budapest Business Journal and the PBS show Frontline/World. I received master’s degrees in journalism and international affairs from UC Berkeley. I live in New York City.