Celebrating athletes who broke barriers, achieved great success, and inspired those who followed.

When we think of Black History month, there are many faces, names, moments, and momentous events that come to mind. So much of Black history in America is marked by revolution and the fight for equality, and in this article we’re going to examine the impact that Black athletes have had through history. Let’s look at the joy, inspiration, and empowerment that the fight for equality that Black Americans in sports have brought and continue to bring to generations of Americans: Black and white, athletes and non-athletes, and people of all genders and ages. 

In 2025, sports are viewed to be relatively equal opportunity when it comes to race. Often, current debates about equal opportunity in sports come from a gender standpoint rather than race. However, it was not always like that for Black athletes, and though progress has been made, we still have a long way to go with racial equality in sports. Here are a few influential and accomplished Black athletes who have pushed for increased equality in sports. 

We all know Muhammad Ali, who was considered the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, but before him there was Jack Johnson. Johnson began his boxing career in 1898 when segregation and racism were rampant across America. Quickly, Johnson began to climb the ranks and eventually became the first person of color to win the Heavyweight Champion of the world in 1908. Johnson paved the way for future Black boxers to follow in his footsteps and break down barriers.

In 1955, Raven Wilkinson became the first African American ballerina to sign a contract to dance with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. At the time, the idea of a Black ballerina was a shocking thing, but despite this, Wilkinson pursued her dreams. Even 70 years later, ballet remains a very white-dominated sport, but Wilkinson paved the road to opportunity that had been closed to all Black dancer; she helped get the ball rolling into inclusivity within the ballet world, and set the groundwork for dancers like Lauren Anderson and Misty Copeland to continue pushing for inclusivity in ballet.

Following along with Wilkinson, Simone Manuel, though maybe not the first Black swimmer, paved the way for other Black athletes to thrive in her sport. Manuel is a seven time Olympic medalling swimmer and she became the first female athlete ever to win seven medals in one World Championship. In the 2019 World’s competition, Manuel won seven medals when she became the first swimmer to win both the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle. Beyond Manuel’s incredible swim record, she has continued to empower Black girls to not be afraid of participating in white dominated sports. Manuel is another prime example of an individual who didn’t let social norms stop her from being able to break decade-long barriers and be a role model for many young athletes facing similar obstacles.

Alongside Manuel is two-time Olympic gold medalist Ashleigh Johnson, an all America water polo goalkeeper who is believed by most to be the greatest of all time. Like Manuel, Johnson has used her skill and platform to be a trailblazer for many athletes who may not feel like they fit alongside their teammates. Johnson was the first African-American woman to make the Olympic team when she did so in 2016 and since then held her spot on the team for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. Johnson has shown how nothing about the way you look should define your success in sports or any aspect of life.

There are so many Black athletes that have shaped sports in America, far too many to name. However there are some that have become such prominent figures in sports they simply cannot be left out. One of those individuals is Tiger Woods, who is considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time and one of the most influential athletes of the 21st century. Though he was not the first Black golfer to appear in a Masters (the first was Lee Elder in 1975) he was the first to win: in 1997 Woods became the first Black golfer to win the green jacket and he later went on to win four more Masters tournaments. Since his first win in 1997, Woods has captivated fans for decades and has become one of the most influential athletes of all time. 

There’s so many more athletes that have paved the way for generations to come, and I encourage you to research and read about many of the others who have shaped today’s sports. It’s important, however, to not take the equality we have today in sports for granted. Although we have a long way to go as a nation and world when it comes to equality, it’s very important to recognize that we’ve come a long way, and we can thank these trailblazing athletes for much of that progress.

Article by Maggie McMillen