Raise a Fist, Take a Knee: Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports

by John Feinstein, Doug Williams (Foreword)

Based on dozens of shocking interviews with some of the most influential names in sports, this is the urgent and revelatory examination of racial inequality in professional athletics America has been waiting for.

Commentators, coaches, and fans alike have long touted the diverse rosters of leagues like the NFL and MLB as sterling examples of a post-racial America. Yet decades after Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a display of Black power and pride, and years after Colin Kaepernick shocked the world by kneeling for the national anthem, the role Black athletes and coaches are expected to perform—both on and off the field—still can be determined as much by stereotype and old-fashion ideology as ability and performance.

Whether it’s the pre-game moments of resistance, the lack of diversity among coaching and managerial staff, or the consistent undervaluation of Black quarterbacks, racial politics impact every aspect of every sport being played—yet the gigantic salaries and glitzy lifestyles of pro athletes often disguise the ugly truths of how minority players are treated and discarded by their White bosses. John Feinstein crisscrossed the country to secure personal interviews with quarterbacks, coaches, and more, revealing the stories none of us have heard (but all of us should know).

Seventy-five years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line, race is still a central and defining factor of America's professional sports leagues. With an encyclopedic knowledge of professional sports, and shrewd cultural criticism, bestselling and award-winning author John Feinstein uncovers not just why, but how, pro sports continue to perpetuate racial inequality.
 
“None of us are trying to make race an issue. Race IS an issue.” (From the Foreword by Doug Williams)

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, History, Race, Social Justice, Football, Basketball

366 pages, Hardcover

Published November 16, 2021

About the author

John Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.

Reviews

[Steven Z. · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Feinstein’s reputation is based on his excellent reporting and the 45 books he has written. His approach is multi-faceted whether books or articles that cover baseball, golf, tennis, college and pro football, basketball, college and professional. Feinstein’s writing is clear and insightful, and these characteristics are evident in his latest book, and perhaps his most important, RAISE A FIST, TAKE A KNEE: RACE AND THE ILLUSION OF PROGRESS IN MODERN SPORTS. At a time highlighted by a former racist president, the Black Lives Matter movement, the death of George Floyd and too many others Feinstein effectively explores the issue of racial inequality in sports, a microcosm of our larger society which should open the eyes of its readers.

After reading the introduction by former NFL quarterback Doug Williams and Feinstein’s opening chapter it brought me back to my own experiences with racism. In my early twenties I joined a group of friends in a softball tournament in Staten Island, NY. When the games where completed, a teammate came up to me and said, “for a Jew, you are a pretty good guy,” I was dumb founded. Earlier, I had undergone basic training in the army at Fort Lost in the Woods Misery, better known as Ft. Leonard Wood and the first thing I heard at reception station was “Freiberger, Jew boy we gonna whoop your fucking ass.” This was 1969 and being in a company where the majority of recruits were from Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama I should not have been surprised. Needless to say, things went downhill from then on.

After reading Feinstein’s work and revisiting my own experiences which go beyond the two experiences I describe one would think that almost fifty years later as a society we would have made greater progress, including sports. However, as Feinstein clearly shows in football where the vast majority of players are black, there are only three head coaches and two general managers. In baseball, as of May 2021 according to USA Today, “just under 8% of the league's players are Black. Dave Roberts of the Dodgers and Dusty Baker of the Astros remain the only Black managers. There are currently no Black general managers in Major League baseball. If this is not an indicator of the current trends in sports then nothing is.”

Feinstein has conducted a prolific amount of research which is reflected in his discussion of numerous topics germane to his thesis. A case in point is the number of black quarterbacks in the NFL and what it takes to become a quarterback if you are black. Interestingly today there are a number of exceptional young quarterbacks in the NFL, but if the past is prologue many black players who aspire to stand behind a center have been steered in the direction of wide receiver, cornerback or safety because of course they were fast, and if we include racial tropes hinted by coaches like Mike Shanahan they are not able to grasp the intricacies of running the offense of a professional football team. This is out and out racism and Feinstein provides examples to support his argument including the likes of Donavan McNabb, Colin Kaepernick and Marlin Briscoe. In Kaepernick’s high profile case he took a knee during the national anthem to protest the lack of racial justice in America, resulting in being blackballed by all 32 NFL teams.

As one reads Feinstein’s work a number of extremely important points emerge. First, the NFL is 75% black but if you are a white coach who has been dismissed one or two times the odds are you will get another opportunity to be a head coach. If you are a black under the same circumstances you will most likely spend your career as an offensive or defensive coordinator, never given the opportunity to become a head coach. Again, Feinstein points to a number of individuals to support his conclusions, Marvin Lewis, Jim Caldwell, and Lovie Smith. Further, he asks the question many others have; why hasn’t Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy been hired as a head coach based on his career resume and success? Football is not the only sport that exhibits these discrepancies. In college basketball there are 332 coaching jobs, 82 of which are held by blacks – a sport where 50% of the players are black. (161)

Second, why are black quarterbacks in college expected to change positions in order to play in the NFL? Feinstein takes us inside the Baltimore Ravens 2018 draft room where it took a black General Manager, Ozzie Newsome to choose a black quarterback. To understand this process and the choice of Lamar Jackson in addition to the cadre of young black quarterbacks in the league who are a success, we must ask, is the process changing? Interestingly, in 2017 the Chicago Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky with their second round draft pick while Patrick Mahomes went in the 10th round and Deshaun Watson was chosen in the 12th. Today Trubisky is a backup QB and not even with the Bears, but he is white and the others black. The situation for blacks who aspire to become general managers face the same obstacles. The numbers do not lie.

Third, when blacks peacefully protest they are usually stigmatized for life – exemplified by John Carlos and Tommie Smith of 1968 Mexico City fame and Colin Kaepernick.

Lastly, something Pittsburgh Steeler coach Mike Tomlin refers to as “the talk,” how you engage white police officers when you are pulled over if you have black sons whose only transgression is “driving while black.” This has nothing to do with sports, but it provides a lens into how black parents try and protect their children in the larger society. “The talk” is a result of the experiences of black fathers who for generations have been treated poorly by police.

Feinstein does an excellent job providing the personal background for each of the sports figures he discusses. Whether it is John Carlos, Tony Dungy or a host of other we get to see the world through their eyes and are exposed to an important perspective when it comes to race based on what they have been through leading to their professional careers.

Perhaps Feinstein’s most entertaining and insightful chapter, “Pathfinders” focuses on the life and career of Georgetown coach John Thompson. Thompson was a man with a tough exterior and took an exceptionally weak program and turned it into a national powerhouse. But beyond the façade, Thompson was a wonderful person who took care of his players and was “thoughtful and eloquent and never ducked a question, once you got the chance to ask one.” What is clear in college basketball most head coaching offers to Blacks are given by programs that are in poor shape. According to Thompson, “there have been plenty of Black coaches capable of winning a national championship. Only a handful have been given a realistic chance to do so.”

Feinstein’s discussion of the NBA, a league that is the most progressive and places itself at the center of society’s ills with protests by players and its commissioner are eye opening. Focusing on Doc Rivers whose commentary encapsulates the plight of blacks in the larger society as opposed to zeroing in on the NBA is important because it shows how racial attitudes are intertwined between sports and the “real” world. For Rivers, the deaths of George Floyd, Jacob Blake, Ahmaud Arbery, Breanna Taylor and so many others are too much as is the constant experience of Black While Driving. The NBA may be more progressive, but it too has some key issues that must be addressed.
Feinstein finds the same issues that plague football and basketball in baseball. Though he does not dig down as deep as he did with other sports the problems that exist sound familiar. For example, why has Willie Randolph who had a successful career as a player, coach, and even as a manager of the New York Mets been out of baseball since 2011 and has not had the opportunity to manage another team since the Mets fired him. Jeff Torborg has been a manager five times and his record is not as strong as Randolph. If we are to examine this example and others it is clear, Randolph is black, Torborg is white. Why did A.J. Hinch, the manager of the Houston Astros who was fired and suspended by Major League baseball for the illegalities in winning the 2017 World Series, get rehired by the Detroit Tigers immediately after he served his suspension? He was white!

If we follow the path of Dave Stewart, an all-star pitcher and World Series champion to become a general manager the pattern is the same, and of course he is black therefore he missed out on the executive position with the Toronto Blue Jays who hired a “white” person whose resume did not hold a candle to Stewart’s. If one follows Black men with executive positions in baseball we see Derek Jeter, part owner of the Florida Marlins and Kenny Williams as executive vice-president after being a GM of the Chicago White Sox, but it took twenty-one years – obviously, the pattern remains clear.

Feinstein has authored an important book, made even better with his sense of humor and sarcasm. With the death of George Floyd and the events of last year hovering over each sentence Feinstein must be commended for his impeccable research, easy writing style, and the importance of his topic which makes the book difficult to put the book down. If there is one area that Feinstein could have improved upon is that he can get repetitive at times, but this is probably nit-picking.

[D'Arcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Really important and eye-opening read. I knew there was still plenty of racism in sports (see Colin Kaepernick, for one) but had no idea just HOW much. I really enjoyed hearing from people across multiple leagues that Feinstein talked to about their experiences of being Black in professional sports and in America in general. Took off half a star for being slightly repetitive at times (literally repeating the same quotes from the same person throughout the book) and because sometimes my eyes glazed over when too many numbers/stats were listed in a paragraph. But overall very readable and current.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have often wondered over the years why there are all these short white coaches coaching primarily tall black players. Now I know. I have also said many times over the years that I'm glad I don't have to raise a black son in America. I would be either in a constant state of anxiety or constant state of rage. The book made me alternately angry and tearful. I have very little interest in sports (and the paragraphs full of names and stats made me yawn), but I have considerable interest in racial injustice. Feinstein did a great job of laying it all out across many different sports. Highly recommend, especially for people who actually follow sports.

[Kevin Dhaese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a five-star topic with a three-star telling from Mr. Feinstein. He has authored many good books, this not being one of his best, largely because the specific stories told are already known. Nonetheless, it is a worthy read. The real value will be if Feinstein's history and credibility allows him to reach an audience still denying we have not yet reached our American Ideal. I am not sure anyone can span that gap. I appreciate and salute his effort.

[Nioke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The most interesting and powerful parts of this book were the individual stories of the coaches. Unfortunately, Feinstein is too preachy and adds himself into the story unnecessarily. There is obviously a story to tell here but I don't think he is the right person to do it.

[Ken Heard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Race in sports is a popular topic, enhanced by Colin Kaepernick's protest on the football field and the Kenosha police shooting of a Black man that led to the NBA cancelling some playoff games two years ago. However, Feinstein, a seasons reporter, uses mostly only his own takes on the issues when writing this book and for that, I think it falls short.

Much of the book is repetitive. There are numerous mentions of George Floyd, the Black man that the Minneapolis police office fatally knelt on. There's also plenty of references to other events repeated over and over in the book. And, for crying out loud, we know Mitch Tribusky was picked by the Bears over Mahomes and Watson. If Feinstein told us once, he told us at least five times.

It seems the sections of this book -- football, basketball and then baseball/other -- were topics for a series of shorter essays he had already written. The transitions between chapters were somewhat tough and, again, it was so repetitive.

Much of the writing is also opinion. There are no sources in the back of the book, and I suspect Feinstein cobbled notes from previous interviews into this book.

Still, it is an interesting book and serves as a thoughtful look at this issue. If you can get over the repetitions, the editorializing and Feinstein's smarmy ways, it's okay.

[Chris Manno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review: Raise a Fist, Take a Knee. John Feinstein

Raise a Fist, Take a Knee: Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports. John Feinstein. New York: Little and Brown, 2021.

ISBN 9780316540933 366 pages; hardback copy reviewed.

The reader should know what a dark forest is entered upon cracking open John Feinstein’s Raise a Fist, Take a Knee. It took nearly fifty pages of this 366-page, $30 hardback new release, but I reluctantly resigned myself to this tenuous reality: an account of the black experience of racism in professional sports, posited by a white male non-athlete.

There is potential nonetheless, with thorough researching and sourcing. As with every non-fiction book I review, I immediately went to the back pages, looking for sources and notes: there are none. So, whatever authority resides in this narrative is neither hard-sourced nor cited. Rather, the bulk of Feinstein’s contention rests on his own interpretations of various conversations and events. Much of that is anecdotal, and almost all of it is without any context other than Feinstein’s, making this text largely an opinion piece on steroids, or, as a famous defense attorney once bemoaned a biased prosecutor, a foregone conclusion searching for justification.

There is a blunt, compelling foreword by Superbowl MVP and NFL coach and executive Doug Williams. His perspective is authentic and to the point: race is an issue in professional sports. This sets the reader up for a big-picture look at race, racism, and professional sports. But the handoff to Feinstein results in meager yardage, with little or no context for the reader besides a one-dimensional cultural critique based on a Caucasian man’s intractable, often predisposed contextual reconstruction of events he viewed from the sidelines.

For example, NFL Pro-Bowl and record-setting quarterback, Donovan McNabb. In Feinstein’s telling, McNabb was unjustly benched and given “hush money” ($3.5 million) as a result of Redskins’ coach Shanahan’s “racial coding.” Missing from the context is the fact that $3.5 million was just the guarantee, with the possibility of $88 or even $90 million over the life of the contract based on a typical NFL performance incentive clause. Even more glaringly omitted is the fact that McNabb was actually sidelined after a 59 to 28 loss where he threw three interceptions and completed barely 50% of his passes, the worst statistics he’d ever posted in his career. The following year, McNabb was traded to Minnesota and the point became moot anyway, as is often the case in the NFL. Shortly thereafter, he retired as a Philadelphia Eagle.

Feinstein examines what is perhaps the most iconic and groundbreaking protest against racial injustice which played out at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, when two medal-winning American athletes raised black-gloved fists during the playing of the American National anthem. Feinstein’s description—although not sourced or cited—is fair enough. In fact, one feels empathy for the two gutsy protesters and even admiration for their determination. Then Feinstein links the 1968 protest to the 2021 capitol riot, based on a recent telephone interview with one of the Mexico City protestors. Inexplicably, there follows an incendiary reference to Brent Musburger’s 1968 sports editorial about the Olympic protest. Weinstein opines “Musburger could easily have been a plantation owner who couldn’t understand why his ‘darkies’ were complaining about working twelve hours a day in the cotton fields when, after all, he fed and housed them.” That claim in those inflammatory terms is emblematic of Weinstein’s thinking, license, and rhetorical strategy throughout this book.

Feinstein chatted with Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, and from the quarterback’s comments regarding his draft year, the author implies a thinly veiled possibility of racism: instead of drafting Mahomes, the Bears took Mitchell Trubisky plus a defensive player. This, the point is inferred, was a foolish choice to draft a white quarterback who fizzled out for the Bears, while Mahomes signed for $450 million (not guaranteed, as in the McNabb example, which Feinstein brushes past) with the Chiefs. The moral to the story is unclear, but the “woke” racial shading of Feinstein’s sketch is as unavoidable as it is ambiguous.

Similarly oblique, often vaguely connected anecdotes reveal equally uncertain racialized scenarios in baseball and basketball before Feinstein gets to the big kahuna of sports protests, the Colin Kaepernick sideline-kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games. Interlaced with what Feinstein conveys as the NFL Commissioner’s inadequate response to the George Floyd wrongful death and subsequent protests, the Kaepernick “blackballing” is posited as a fake tryout with the possibility of tampering (“a Falcons tape could have been edited quite easily”), though Kaepernick himself “moved the tryout” to a public venue with free access to scouts and the press.

Feinstein’s passion and enthusiasm are admirable, and his sincerity unquestionable. At long last, in the Epilogue, he posits “I came to realize that arguing that Black and white people in this country are polarized over the issue of race was a little bit like pointing out that the sun was likely to rise in the east tomorrow morning.” Patterned after the veiled, often questionable implications unfolded in the preceding 338 pages, this discovery seems to imply an ironic, perhaps overriding conclusion to one man’s viewpoint: the problem is obvious, and there’s really nothing new under the sun—or in this lengthy opinion piece.

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really powerful book by John Feinstein on race in sports over the past 75 years or so. The forward and epilogue especially are well written. There are great stories on Tommie Smith, John Carlos, John Thompson, Jackie Robinson, Doc Rivers, Mike Tomlin, Tony Dungy, Willie Randolph, Arthur Ashe, Lamar Jackson, Doug Williams, etc. Wish there had been maybe a little more on Colin Kaepernick, but there is stuff on him. I enjoyed this book by one of the greatest sports authors of all time and this book is one of his best in a list that includes "A Civil War," "The Legends Club," "Season on the Brink," "The Punch," and "Living on the Black" to name a few. A good time to read this book as well.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book.

[Stephen Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important piece of racial commentary across American sport and life. Definitely worth reading.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history and present day issues. Sports and social progress do not go hand in hand in America.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feinstein’s best book!

I’ve been reading John Feinstein‘s material since I arrived as a freshman at Duke University in 1974. He’s always been outspoken, never afraid to give an opinion, and well reasoned in almost all of his stories. I loved the stories about his relationship with John Thompson, and it’s interesting to compare those with the relationship he had with Lefty Driesell, detailed in others of his works. Good on you, John Feinstein. Thank you for taking on this project. It was well researched, well written, and everyone who is a fan of American sports should read this.

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I knew a lot of this information, it was good to see it all in one place. Now there us a lawsuit against the NFL over the discrimination discussed in the book.

[Ben Hankins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a number of Feinstein's books and they never fail to entertain -- he's an excellent reporter. It's a tough subject for a white author to cover, which it what makes it an interesting read. A number of the story lines are quite repetitive, but it doesn't take away from the overall book.

[Andrew Smiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, detailed discussion of racism in sports (mostly basketball and football) in current day America. Lots of anecdotes describing exactly what that racism loos like and how it feels to it’s victims. It’s not groundbreaking from the perspective of racism in America, but Feinsteins access and his ability to explain racism - especially for a white audience - are essential for understanding racism (in athletics) more fully.

[Kirk Weikart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being a big Feinstein fan, I was disappointed with this book. In his previous books, the author presents facts that were hard to know (eg, Bob Knight, Patriot League basketball). He has also (until now) shown tremendous analytical skills that break down the issues at hand and examine all angles. Sadly, in this book, he does not present any new information, and makes no attempt to deal with those who disagree with his premise. It is hard to win people to your position if you simply demonize and ridicule their opinions.

Also, facts about the interview subjects are repeated far too often. It happens so often, especially in the football section, that it distracts from any point that the author is trying to make.

Overall, high expectations are created, but are not delivered.

[Galen Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feinstein is my favorite sportswriter (one of the only sportswriters I will read in book form), and this is a topic of great importance to me. And, I'm not the target audience here-- I know there is racism in sports and don't need any convincing. This book has great interviews and great intentions, and it feels like it missed out on a lot of editing and synthesis. The book is organized by major sport, with hefty intro/prologue and epilogue and "others" sections. Some anecdotes and quotes get repeated in multiple sections, almost or completely word for word, which gets old. I appreciate the reporting-- the recording of the stories of groundbreaking black athletes and coaches, the racism they encountered even with great success in their fields. But I don''t think the book is written in a way that will reach those whose minds need to be changed nor in a way that synthesizes the themes (like "driving while black" and lack of coaching opportunities across sports) In a unique manner. Still, Feinstein is brutally honest and has great access thanks to his decades of sports reporting. This is an important book, and it leaves a lot of room for improvement...both as a book, and as a reality of sports in the U.S.

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an African-American & a huge sports fan, I truly appreciate John Feinstein for writing this book. Feinstein put that work in on this one. While this book was so needed, Feinstein was the perfect person to write it. His research was immaculate. Sports have long colored many of the historical first in the country. Feinstein took readers on a historical journey through each sport individually.

[Bettingmalawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Feinstein has been a sportswriter for many years--long enough to know both the players and the coaches and the owners. Plus, he is a true sports fan and doesn’t seem to be a lunatic like many with strong opinions about sports. And I am old enough to remember the iconic raised fist salute at the Mexico City Olympics in (gasp) 1968 as well as being a long time fan of many of the players and games referenced in this book, including Colin Kaepernick, probably the first that comes to mind for many when they see “take a knee.” So a book with the title Raise a Fist, Take a Knee really jumped out at me!

The act of taking a knee definitely got a reaction from people, many of whom saw it as unpatriotic, although in the foreword by former NFL quarterback Doug Williams, it is correctly pointed out that “...the protests had nothing to do with patriotism.” The rant by the former President elicited a strong response: “The week before his rant, a total of six players knelt for the anthem. On the Sunday afterward, more than two hundred players either knelt or stayed in the locker room…” One huge point raised by Williams is that “...many people don’t want to accept that race is still a massive issue for all of us.”

TBH, I have long recognized the racism in sports, while at the same time marveling at the way sports can bring people together -- at least when they are fans of the same team or player. But if anyone has any doubt about the systematic racism in sports, this book will be a real eye opener. There are separate sections for football, baseball, and basketball, each with jaw-dropping stories or honest quotes to emphasize the point. For example, African-American players in the NFL have been asked to change positions they played, because of the racism that favors qhite quarterbacks. Well-known figures including Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin weigh in on their experiences, recounting how Black coaches are often seen first as recruiters, better able to discuss challenges and reality with the players and their families.

I am a big sports fan. I had a love-hate relationship with this book. I loved the depth of knowledge and honesty while simultaneously hating the situation that seems to be getting worse. Definitely, have an openly racist President brought a lot of closet racists out in the open, and recent events allowing people to actually see unarmed African-Americans gunned down have contributed to a greater awareness of the pervasive racism throughout society in general and sports in particular. It is an important book, an entertaining book, and an eye opener. Five stars, and thanks to Little, Brown and netGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covering the Black sports experience, mainly in professional football, basketball and baseball, but also for Black athletes in track, hockey, and even swimming and golf, sports reporter Feinstein interviewed dozens of well known, successful Black athletes about their professional and life experiences as Blacks. The results were not encouraging.

Clearly societal prejudice does not end at the sports field. While White coaches get more chances to overcome bad team performances, Black coaches are more likely to be "let go" for failure to make the playoffs. For years the unspoken principal in football was that a great Black college quarterback was a good player who should be converted to a running back or wide receiver (the obvious under current is that Blacks aren't good/smart enough to be the quarterback at the professional level). This myopic myth can still be seen today - in the 2017 college player draft the Chicago Bears drafted Mike Trubisky with the second overall pick to be their quarterback. Black quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were drafted tenth and twelfth, respectively. The latter two are now NFL stars, Trubisky is the Buffalo Bills backup quarterback. The next year when Lamar Jackson, Heisman Trophy winner in 2016, went to the college combines (prequel for the NFL draft) he refused to run the 40 yard dash because he is very fast and he did not want to be drafted to be converted to a wide receiver or running back. (Lamar Jackson was the 32nd draft pick of the 2018 NFL draft - 4 White quarterbacks were chosen before him - and he was the NFL's MVP in 2019).

All of the Black sportsmen interviewed could speak to having had the DWB (driving while Black) experience with police, and to the sit down talk Black men have to give their sons about how to behave when stopped or approached by police, which is virtually inevitable.

from the book:
Longtime basketball coach Tubby Smith reacting to a "separate but equal" question - "Yes, separate. But equal? Are you kidding?"

Ed Tapscott, college and NBA basketball coach: "every Black man wakes up in the morning with two jobs - his job and being a Black man."

“None of us are trying to make race an issue. Race IS an issue.” (From the Foreword by Doug Williams)

[Abby Crews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ this was a recommendation from my dad who is very into sports and supportive of the BLM movement. unlike my father, I do not sit in front of the tv for 12 hours every sunday in the fall, but I do enjoy the occasional football game / basketball game / any other sport that’s on at the time.

while I was unfamiliar with the majority of the individuals who were interviewed for this book, I enjoyed reading about their careers and their thoughts on how professional sport organizations have progressed (or not progressed) in eliminating racial biases. the one star I took off my rating was for the fact that I had a difficult time remembering many of the athletes / coaches that were mentioned numerous times throughout the book. I found it difficult to follow or place names to stories at times.

one discussion that was prevalent throughout this book was the expected look of a quarterback. many black quarterbacks were not only asked, but forced, to change positions for a chance to get into the professional leagues. this is just one example of how these biases may be inherent, but are still SO prevalent in professional sports.

this is an important book for not only people interested in sports, but all people who want to learn more about the biases black people and people of other raises face on a daily basis. I, as a white woman, have never had to think about my race hindering me from progressing in my career. I have never had to worry about getting pulled over and being murdered by an individual who is supposed to be keeping citizens safe. I’m disappointed that this country is one where a racist individual like donald trump can be a valid candidate in an election, but black coaches and players mess up a few times and are written off without a second thought.

overall, this book is definitely worth a read even if you are not an avid sports lover. the themes discussed are universal and important to understand not only in the context of sports but for everyday life.

[Chris Jaffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, and certainly an ambitious one - but it ultimately disappoints.

Main problem: you know the old saying "you can't see the forest through the trees"? Well, Feinstein wants to tell us of the forest, but ultimately ends up pointing out several trees. I understand what he's trying to do here. The best way to make people understand a larger issue is by telling smaller, personal issues. Just a bunch of facts and numbers is deadening - but a personal story makes it come alive. OK - but you still need to tie your stories to a larger series of facts.

Feinstein tells us of Doug Williams and John Thompson and Willie Randolph and Doc Rivers and Warren Moon and many more - and it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. He's ultimately much more effective at telling those smaller stories than tying it to any larger scale issues. Thus the stories of racial bias and discimination in sports too often sounds like complaining about how the Bears picked Mitchell Trubisky over Pat Maholm. Or the bigger point comes off about how the NFL treats black quarterbacks instead of a larger, more cohesive point about race and sports in general.

There are some good parts here. The stories are good. Feinstein is a good writer. The stuff on early black quarterbacks is amazing how they were so completely ignored even when they played well. But Feinstein isn't as good at making the broader point, which was the whole point of this book in the first place.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Little, Brown, and Company for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An amazingly interesting (and also shocking) look at how Black athletes have been unfairly treated not only in sports, but in everyday life. John Feinstein is one of my favorite active sportswriters, and he explains that he’s not “writing” about this issue, he’s “reporting” on it, as none of us who are white can ever understand what Black folks go through every day: having to not only do their jobs, but also overcome the inherent racism of also doing your job while being Black.

The list of interviewees is extensive, spanning the 4 major sports, and also including Black athletes in golf, tennis, and swimming. And the refrain was consistent throughout: yes, progress has been made, compared to what it looked like around the mid-20th century, but we are nowhere near close to eradicating systemic racism.

Since around late 2016 or so, people have been more open with their racism, and it manifested itself during the summer of 2020. John’s interviewees, in some cases, all come back to that seminal moment in our history as a point when intelligent and progressive white people really came to their senses about racial differences in this country. Hearing these stories from famous athletes shows that it affects all.

Wonderfully done, and for me, eye-opening.

[Gary Cousins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Illusion of Progress

I’m going to admit it; John Feinstein is one of my favorite authors - - and I did not get around to reading “Raise a Fist, Take a Knee” until February 18…on February 20, the University of Michigan played the University of Wisconsin in a nationally televised college basketball game - - and the headline that screamed on social media was that Howard (Michigan’s basketball coach) either tried to punch or slap Wisconsin’s assistant coach. Mind you this was after Howard was pushed in the chest by Wisconsin’s coach, and Wisconsin’s assistant tried to manhandle a couple of Michigan’s players. Wisconsin’s head coach and assistant? Both white. The Badgers’ angelic coaching duo did absolutely nothing wrong according to the majority of the white press that wrote the post-game articles, while calling for the black coach’s head on a platter. Yes, progress is only an illusion…

[Kea4 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why just why? You want to talk about racism in sports?

Who is Feinstein? Does he play sports? Is he black? No so why not have the book be written by someone who’s experienced it firsthand?

You’re also talking about sports contracts that most are not privy to.

Where are your sources? Oh, wait the book has none.
This is all secondhand narrative and conversations the author assumes.

Kaepernick of course is brought up.

And of course Anti Trump but what else is new. Truth be told this book is a waste of time. The oddest part is the author seems so focused on race. He mentions the 1968 protest and compares it to the 2021 capitol riot which is the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.

I guess in the end I ask why even write this book. And what are we supposed to do about it? Seeing the opportunities and the paychecks they have access to well…

https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...

[Scott Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In modern sports, it is impossible to not discuss race relations and its impact, especially as more and more players are of black decent. A white man, who has had his interactions with race and sports, attempts to look at the situation, from the 1968 Olympics to the recent Colin Kaepernick stance to Euro 2020 (played in 2021). Black athletes all over the world face racism and immense difficulties, especially if they have aspirations for leadership roles in the sports they play. From football to baseball, basketball and soccer, it is an issue and one that shows no sign of going away. There is improvement, but it is oh so easy for older prejudices to come back to the forefront (see Trump 2017).

A good read, and one that will not please everyone. Maybe we give sports too outsized a role in life, but for those involved, you can’t escape the real world issues that follow it. This book addresses some of those key subjects.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where are the women? Every athlete profiled in this book is male.

Other than that, it’s a great book, honest reporting by a white guy who admittedly has no clue what it’s like to have a second full-time job - being Black - along with his profession as a writer. The stories and interviews were inspiring, and doubtless shocking to white readers.

There could have been more examples and more focus on outspoken protest and sacrifices made, as in the cases of Kaep, Carlos, and Smith; that’s the stated point to the book. Still, the book carries its own weight with stories from the lives of dozens of familiar names in sports. In that sense, it’s a must-read for context as an American who truly wants to see us get to a better place.

[Elliot Olshansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential Reading for Sports Fans

When I first heard that John Feinstein was writing this book, I thought it sounded like something the late David Halberstam might have written if he were still with us. John said he was honored when I tweeted that to him, but the truth is that this isn't the book Halberstam would have written. It's BETTER.

John's own history - especially his relationship with the late John Thompson - infuses this book with so much life that it helps to draw you further into the essential issues he explores.

If you haven't grown up with firsthand knowledge of discrimination, this can be a tough read, but that's also what makes it important. And along the way, it's written with Feinstein's usual engaging style.

Highest recommendation.

[Andy Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this book isn’t just about racism in sports. It focuses on coaches, executive positions, or leadership roles (like QB). While it is written by a white male, he backs his information with stats, but most importantly, his interviews with prominent minorities in sports. He quotes them repeatedly and captures their struggles. There is a strong emphasis on the double standards that are in place, and how minorities have less room for error.

Give this book a read. It’s a lot better than I anticipated. I’m really glad I read this. We tell ourselves things are equal, but they are not. I’ll end with this… as John Feinstein said in relation to Dr. Martin L King Jr.

“The dream lives. But we have yet to actually live it”
- John Feinstein