Athlete Activism and Social Justice in Sports
Background and Context:
An athlete’s activism is a form of engagement in politics and social issues outside of the professional arena of sport. While athletes are often viewed as entertainers or competitors, their prominence and visibility give them a unique opportunity to speak out about societal issues that are relevant to them.
It is important to note that activism can encompass a wide range of issues, including those of racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental issues, and many more. The rise of athlete activism in recent years has grown significantly in significance, although it is far from a new phenomenon.
Athletes have traditionally used their platforms as a platform for advocating social change. Athletes who played a pivotal role in athlete activism were icons like Muhammad Ali, who refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War for moral reasons, and Jackie Robinson, who broke down the color barrier in baseball.
Nevertheless, athletes have seen an increase in the number of people using their influence to raise awareness about pressing social justice issues during the modern era.
There was a surge in athlete activism triggered by the arrest and killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012, which was further accelerated by high-profile incidents such as the murder of George Floyd in 2020, which was consequential for the Black Lives Matter movement.