I picked the his book up because sports stories are normally positive and uplifting. This author did intersperse a few stories that weren’t political but only a few. Even the Bobby Thompson 1951 shot heard around the world had to include a paragraph on our countries racism. The author first introduces us to the great accomplishments of Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson and Joe Lewis. Raised in poverty these three men achieved greatness. I began asking myself how a racist country that will not accept minorities is capable of offering such opportunities. Robinson, Owens and Lewis even expressed love for our country which made them uncle toms to the later heros introduced. The 1968 olympics provided a stage for two medal winning athletes to express their disdain for the country that provided them with such opportunities. Smith and Carlos raised their black gloved fists in a display of hatred not seen again until the millionaire NFL players felt the need to denigrate their country and its flag. The author had nothing but praise for this show of hatred and he labeled Americans who were offended as racist.The author clearly had a purpose much different than a selection of profiles of sports accomplishment. His purpose was to paint our country as racist and misogynous, something done with far too much frequency these days. As the reader I kept asking myself how such an evil and racist country managed to provide such wonderful opportunities for women and minorities. I grew up during the days of de facto and dejuror segregation. I saw many minorities achieve greatness and find author’s accusations to be in conflict with the great opportunities this country has always afforded everyone who had the desire.