Bill Russell And The Civil Rights Movement Essay - 2437 Words

On May 6, 1999, Bill Russell, the man who redefineed the center by his unique shot-blocking, man-to-man defense and rebounding ability, and contributed to his team Celtics by his outstanding performance and remarkable leadership, finally attended his own retirement ceremony after 27 years of retirement. This great man in the history of American basketball refused to have a ceremony in 1972 in Boston, the city he perceived as the â€Å"racist city†, because of his concern of discrimination. On February 15th, 2011, Bill Russell received the Medal of Freedom from President Obama for his contribution to civil rights movement. Obama described him as â€Å"the man who stand up for the dignity of all men†. From being insulted, being refused in restaurants during tournaments, intimidating the world with his long arms and strong opinions, to challenging the politics of sports and fighting against racism, it has been a long way for Bill Russell, for American basketball, and for A merican society. Basketball, one of the major sports in America, presents the civil rights breakthrough both in professional games and in colleges. The book â€Å"King of the Courts: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution† by Aram Goudsouzian and â€Å"Getting Open: The Unknown Story of Bill Garrett and the Integration of College Basketball† by Tom Graham, and Rachel Graham Cody, reveal the story of how two of the greatest players in the history of American basketball, broke the color barriers in basketball and foster theShow MoreRelatedBill Russell760 Words   |  4 Pagesabout.com/od/civilrights/a/civilrights1.htm During the 1950s and 1960s, a number of important civil rights activities occurred that helped position the Civil Rights movement for greater recognition. They also led either directly or indirectly the passage of key legislation. Following is an overview of the major legislation, Supreme Court cases, and activities that occurred in the Civil Rights movement at the time. * Sit-Ins - Throughout the South groups of individuals would request servicesRead MoreKing Of The Court : Bill Russell And The Basketball Revolution1412 Words   |  6 PagesKing of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution brings a fresh perspective to the life of one of the National Basketball Association’s most iconic and prominent players of all time. Bill Russell is known for his tenacious and innovative style of basketball play, but rarely does his background get much attention. Aram Goudsouzian takes a detailed look into the life of 6’10† Bill Russell, making note of not only his authority on the court, but also his background, culture, and attitudeRead More The Conservative Movement Essay1540 Words   |  7 PagesThe conservative movement has played a crucial role in American politics in the post war era. Ronald Story and Bruce Laurie indentify various elements of the American conservatism. These elements include challenging authoritaria n governments and modernist culture, upholding tradition, Christian religion and the rule of law, defending western civilization, and supporting republicanism. American conservatism has been characterized by competing ideologies and tension throughout history. The AmericansRead MoreArizona’s Immigration Law Essay988 Words   |  4 Pagesrecently decided to take control of the situation, by passing the â€Å"Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act† {House Bill 2162}. This bill gives law enforcement officers and agencies the authority, to lawfully stop, detain and arrest anyone who appears to look like an illegal alien. The bill out-right condones racial profiling and it violates civil rights, as well! Home Land security statistics on immigration verifies that there are approximately 11 million illegal immigrants who resideRead MoreThe Indian Civil Rights Act1577 Words   |  7 PagesIn 1968, Congress passed the Indian Bill of Rights, otherwise known as the Indian Civil Rights Act, in order to apply restrictions and protection under the United States Constitution to Native American governments. This act induced similar Civil Rights and independence to the specified reservation citizens as those who the Federal Constitution guarantees under the State and Federal jurisdiction. (American Indian Rights Handbook 11). Many controversies arose among the Native Americans due to the popularRead MoreEssay about Women in the Work Force- 1960s1390 Words   |  6 PagesWomen in the Work Force- 1960s The 1960s were a time of social and political identification for American women. Despite the victory of voting rights, women still experienced discrimination in daily life. With the current millenium drawing to a close, women today still express concern of unequal treatment. It is important to glance backwards in history and remember the struggles that our mothers and grandmothers experienced. Thanks to the women of the past, women of the present are able to participateRead MoreThe Transformative Power of Sports in the American Civil Rights Movement2344 Words   |  9 PagesThe Transformative Power of Sports in the American Civil Rights Movement Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, but so did Cassius Clay, Jackie Robinson, and Bill Russell. Long before King’s famous â€Å"I Had a Dream† speech or Rosa Parks famous protest came something much simpler: Sports. Sports have always had the ability to open peoples eyes in a way that is more impactful than words or actions. The way that athletics can shape a person’s mind, or open one’s eyes to something beyond what one alreadyRead MoreAssignment 1 Public Administration Th Essay1451 Words   |  6 Pagesto catch those students up with their English speaking classmates. The first negative policy modification would be the policy of (NCLB) no child left behind. Although (NCLB) started a national conversation about student achievement but the (NCLB) movement quickly fizzled out. (NCLB) â€Å" had created incentives for states to lower their standards , emphasized punishing failure over rewarding success, it focused on absolute scores rather than growth in p rogress and prescribed a pass- fail one size fitsRead MoreHarry Truman s Fair Deal1693 Words   |  7 Pagesplayed a role in how the nation played out socially. This was the decade that: the baby boomers peaked, laws and protection plans were created to give veterans education and jobs, and finally civil rights movements were initiated. During the 1950’s government, financing, and social had rapid and powerful movements and changes. When it comes to the politics across the nation during this decade there were two elections, some trials, and new acts and legislations. After the Democratic party ruled the WhiteRead MoreThe Sixties: A Decade of Rebellion Essay1630 Words   |  7 Pages(Smith 220). The second president during this decade was Lyndon B. Johnson, who took over after the assassination of Kennedy. Johnson was a democrat who believed in civil rights and raising the standard of living. During his administration, he brought the southern conservative and northern liberal wings together. He fought for civil rights to rid of past injustice and present prejudice (Horton 173). But as his term went on, opposition towards the president grew considerably. Since he escalated the United