African American Sports Icons

A History of Breaking Barriers

African American Athletes

Jesse Owens
1913-1980

Jesse Owens was known as the "Buckeye Bullet" during his stellar athletic career at Ohio State. In 1935 he set three world records and tied another within a span of 45 minutes at the Big Ten Track Meet in Ann Arbor, MI.

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Jesse Owens

By winning four gold medals in track and field at the 1936 Olympics in Munich, Germany, Jesse Owens refuted the Nazi myth of white supremacy.

Cleveland, OH

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Luke Easter
1915-1979

Known as a power hitter for the Negro League's Homestead Grays and the Major League Cleveland Guardians, Luke Easter is credited with hitting some of the longest homeruns in baseball history.

Cleveland, OH

Althea Gibson
1927-2003

Althea Gibson was the first African American to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the U. S. Open tennis tournaments. She was "tall and graceful with a powerful serve."

Newark, NJ

Althea Gibson-
A Credit to Tennis and Her Country

In addition to being a tennis super star of her era, Althea Gibson was a golf professional. She was the first African American woman in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. (LPGA)

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Muhammad Ali
1942-2016

This 12-foot stainless steel sculpture of two boxing gloves overlapping to form a heart was commissioned by the city in 1991 to honor the spirit of the Smoketown neighborhood and its historic link to boxing, and the start of Muhammad Ali’s career. The sculpture was created by Louisville artists Ed Hamilton and the late Zephra May-Miller.

Louisville, KY

The Muhammad Ali Center

While the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville is not a physical representation of Muhammad Ali it serves as a monument to his life, his career and his embodiment of the values of justice and peace.

Louisville, KY

Joe Frazier
1944-2011

Joe Frazier was an Olympic Heavy Weight Champion and Undisputed World Heavy Weight Champion from 1970-1973. "Smokin' Joe Frazier" was known for his relentless style of boxing, his strength and his formidable left hand.

Philadelphia, PA

Arthur Ashe
1943-1993

Arthur Ashe was the first African American player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only African American man to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open.

Richmond, VA

Joe Lewis
1914-1981

Joe Lewis, "The Brown Bomber," considered by many to be one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 until his temporary retirement in 1949. He was victorious in 25 consecutive title defenses, a record for all weight classes. He had the longest single reign as champion of any boxer in history.

Detroit, MI

Joe Lewis

Known simply as "The Fist," this monument to Joe Lewis now graces downtown Detroit.

Detroit, MI

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Jackie Robinson
1919-1972

Jackie Robinson was the first African American to integrate Major league baseball after a stellar career as a college athlete and as a player in the Negro Leagues. He led the Brooklyn Dodgers to six pennant wins and a world series victory.

Jersey City, New Jersey

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was committed to the struggle for civil rights and racial justice throughout his baseball career and beyond.

This monument is found in Jersey City, NJ where Jackie Robinson made his major league debut.

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