Race, Power & American Sports

During the 20th century, sports had a profound impact on shaping Americans' views on racial equality. Race, Power & American Sports features Dave Zirin, author and sports editor for The Nation, who is here interviewed by Sut Jhally, a professor at the University of Massachusetts. Unfortunately, Jhally throws out (pardon the pun) softball questions to Zirin, who speaks at great length about familiar African-American athletic milestones and events, including Jack Johnson's controversial reign as boxing champion, Jesse Owens and Joe Louis demolishing the myth of Nazi-Aryan physical superiority, Jackie Robinson breaking the Major League Baseball color line, and Muhammad Ali's challenge to the Vietnam War draft. Zirin inexplicably ignores Doug Williams, quarterback for the Washington Redskins in 1988's Super Bowl XXII, as well as the landmark achievements of Althea Gibson and Wilma Rudolph (female athletes receive less than three minutes attention here). Brief mention is given to the relatively recent rise of Latino baseball stars and to basketball's Jeremy Lin, although Native American athletes such as Jim Thorpe are omitted. Interweaving archival and contemporary footage throughout the conversation, this is ultimately a disappointing treatment of an interesting subject. Optional, at best. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)