Back in the 2000s Ohio State was, with the Youngstown Boys Maurice Clarrett & later Terrelle Pyror, building a football powerhouse culminating in the 2002 upset of the undefeated University of Miami.
Then under the Urban Meyer era OSU in 2014 won the CFP National Championship.
After suspending players for ‘improper benefits’ like tattoos the university still earned millions.
Ohio State officially became the first billion dollar football program back in 2015.
When speaking about the impact Malcolm X had, Ossie Davis explained he was our manhood. Though Davis’ remark was for Malcolm it’s still relevant for another man, Muhammad Ali.
When he criticized for his association with the black Muslims and was denied his name he fought Floyd Patterson to prove his worth. Beating his opponent throughly within the fight before knocking him out in the 12th round. In 1967 after being internationally loved he rejected the draft for the Vietnam War and his heavy championship was taken from his. Banned for years, in his prime he still didn’t back down.
Muhammad Ali was unapologetically black. Like Jack Johnson’s ‘unforgivable blackness’ he was brash, speaking his mind and not compromising to any one’s standards.
After losing fellow stars Kevin Love & Kyrie Irving to injuries during the road to the Finals LeBron James gave a historic performance putting The Land within 2 wins of breaking the 50+ year championship drought before running out of steam.
This time seems different.
With first year head coach, Tyronn Lue, a healthy squad and valuable rest after a historic 10-0 start they are revitalized and looking for revenge.
Peyton Manning ended his career after 18 years at Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos shocking the 15-1 Carolina Panthers.
Blacks have been portrayed in media since cinema has begun.
Starting from minstrel shows, complete with blackface, working actors like Mantan Moreland & Stepin Fetchit kept working by taking the only roles available but even with the degrading roles their talent shone throughout.
Decades after the groundbreaking Beulah & controversial Amos & Andy the birth of The Jeffersons, spinning off from All In The Family, was arguably one of the first examples of a black American family prospering on television. This Emmy award winning show is one of the longest running shows in American television history.
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