Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: The Untold Story of 18 African Americans Who Defied Jim Crow and Adolf Hitler to Compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

In this must-read for anyone concerned with race, sports, and politics in America (William C. Rhoden, New York Times bestselling author), the inspirational and largely unknown true story of the eighteen African American athletes who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, defying the racism of both Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of a segregated United States, sixteen Black men and two Black women are torn between boycotting the Olympic Games in Nazi Germany or participating. If they go, they would represent a country that considered them second-class citizens and would compete amid a strong undercurrent of Aryan superiority that considered them inferior. Yet, if they stayed, would they ever have a chance to prove them wrong on a global stage

Five athletes, full of discipline and heart, guide you through this harrowing and inspiring journey. Theres a young and feisty Tidye Pickett from Chicago, whose lithe speed makes her the first African American woman to compete in the Olympic Games; a quiet Louise Stokes from Malden, Massachusetts, who breaks records across the Northeast with humble beginnings training on railroad tracks. We find Mack Robinson in Pasadena, California, setting an example for his younger brother, Jackie Robinson; and the unlikely competitor Archie Williams, a lanky book-smart teen in Oakland takes home a gold medal. Then theres Ralph Metcalfe, born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, who becomes the wise and fierce big brother of the group.

From burning crosses set on the Robinsonss lawn to a Pennsylvania small town on fire with praise and parades when the athletes return from Berlin, Olympic Pride, American Prejudice has done the world a favor by bringing into the sunlight the unknown story of eighteen black Olympians who should never be forgotten. This book is both beautiful and wrenching, and essential to understanding the rich history of African American athletes (Kevin Merida, editor-in-chief of ESPNs The Undefeated).

Author Bio

Deborah Riley Draperis an award-winning director and writer known for the filmsVersailles 73: American Runway Revolutionand 2017 NAACP Image Award nomineeOlympic Pride, American Prejudice. In 2016,Varietynamed her one of 10 Documakers to Watch. In 2019, Draper penned the screen adaptation for theupcoming filmCoffee Will Make You Black.

Two-time Golden Globe nominee and Emmy, Grammy, and seven-time NAACP Image Award recipient Blair Underwood has distinguished himself as an award-winning actor, director, and producer. He has starred inSex in the City,Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, andDisney Channels The Lion Guard. He lives in Los Angeles, California. Follow him on Twitter at @BlairUnderwood.

Bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over fifty books and worked in the publishing industry for more than twenty years. His inspirational stories have included collaborations with filmmakers, musicians, athletes, and pastors. He has written fiction in a variety of genres, from love stories and supernatural thrillers to young adult series. He also has cowritten memoirs and self-help books.