Sports writer, Steve Wulf, writes "the history of sports protests goes deep. Back, way back, on Jan. 13, 532 A.D., at the chariot races in Constantinople, rival drivers from the Blues and Greens teams asked the emperor Justinian to pardon two of their followers who had been condemned to die. His refusal led to the Nika Revolt, six weeks of rioting that resulted in the deaths of 30,000 people. So taking a knee during the national anthem isn’t exactly unprecedented, or nearly as calamitous.

Athletes in modern times have often been moved to protest conditions, to demonstrate that they are citizens of conscience by speaking truth to power." In this presentation, Dr. Whitaker will zero in on Arizona, where amateur and professional athletes have stood at the vanguard of the Black freedom struggle. He will explore how Arizona's athletes have used their platform to seek and secure social, economic, and political justice for people of African descent. For registration information, contact Arizona Humanities or the host, the Glendale Foothills Public Library.