Better than the Best: Black Athletes Speak, 1920-2007 (V. Ethel Willis White Books xx)

In these engaging and forthright interviews, thirteen African American athletes talk about how they endured through pain, loneliness, and rejection to become champions. In sports as diverse as football and fencing, wrestling and track and field, these men and women triumphed over the odds to become better than the best. Their legacy is in their accomplishments and in their determination to continue contributing to the societal transformation their efforts helped make possible. A V Ethel Willis White Book In these engaging and forthright interviews, thirteen African American athletes talk about how they endured through pain, loneliness, and rejection to become champions. In sports as diverse as football and fencing, wrestling and track and field, these men and women triumphed over the odds to become better than the best. Their legacy is in their accomplishments and in their determination to continue contributing to the societal transformation their efforts helped make possible. Arthur Ashe Jr. (tennis) Don Benning (wrestling) Nikke Franke (fencing) Ken Hudson (NBA referee) Jennifer Johnson (Paralympics table tennis) Sam Lacy (baseball and journalism) Alan Page (football) Maurice Smith (martial arts) Mae Faggs Starr (track and field) Wyomia Tyus (track and field) Peter Westbrook (fencing) Mal Whitfield (track and field) Lenny Wilkens (basketball) Athletes Describe How They Succeeded In The Face Of Often Daunting Odds, Some Due To Economic Barriers And Most The Result Of Racist Attitudes And Practices. From Publisher Description. Sam Lacey: Sports Journalism -- Mal Whitfield: Track And Field -- Mae Faggs Starr: Track And Field -- Don Benning, Ed. D.: Wrestling -- Lenny Wilkens: Basketball -- Ken Hudson: Nba Referee -- Arthur Ashe, Jr.: Tennis -- Wyomia Tyus: Track And Field -- Alan Page, J.d.: Football -- Jennifer Johnson: Paralympic Table Tennis -- Nikki Franke, Ed. D.: Fencing -- Peter Westbrook: Fencing -- Maurice Smith: Martial Arts -- Black Athletes Interviewed For The Blacks In Sports Oral History Project. Edited By John C. Walter And Malina Iida. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. These engaging and forthright interviews bring together the life stories of thirteen black athletes who have risen to the top rank of their sport. In revealing and fascinating detail, these athletes describe how they succeeded in the face of often daunting odds, some due to economic barriers and most the result of racist attitudes and practices. Many of the athletes included were the first African Americans to compete successfully in their sports, and their stories recall moments of pain, loneliness, and feelings of rejection. In the end, however, all express joy in the accomplishment of their goals and a determination to continue contributing to the societal transformation their efforts hastened

In these engaging and forthright interviews, thirteen African American athletes talk about how they endured through pain, loneliness, and rejection to become champions. In sports as diverse as football and fencing, wrestling and track and field, these men and women triumphed over the odds to become better than the best. Their legacy is in their accomplishments and in their determination to continue contributing to the societal transformation their efforts helped make possible.