The Heritage Audiobook By Howard Bryant cover art

The Heritage

Black Athletes, a Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism

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The Heritage

By: Howard Bryant
Narrated by: Ronnie Butler
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Following in the footsteps of Robeson, Ali, Robinson and others, today’s Black athletes re-engage with social issues and the meaning of American patriotism

Named a best book of 2018 by Library Journal

It used to be that politics and sports were as separate from one another as church and state. The ballfield was an escape from the world’s worst problems, top athletes were treated like heroes, and cheering for the home team was as easy and innocent as hot dogs and beer. “No news on the sports page” was a governing principle in newsrooms.

That was then.

Today, sports arenas have been transformed into staging grounds for American patriotism and the hero worship of law enforcement. Teams wear camouflage jerseys to honor those who serve; police officers throw out first pitches; soldiers surprise their families with homecomings at halftime. Sports and politics are decidedly entwined.

But as journalist Howard Bryant reveals, this has always been more complicated for black athletes, who from the start, were committing a political act simply by being on the field. In fact, among all black employees in twentieth-century America, perhaps no other group had more outsized influence and power than ballplayers. The immense social responsibilities that came with the role is part of the black athletic heritage. It is a heritage built by the influence of the superstardom and radical politics of Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos through the 1960s; undermined by apolitical, corporate-friendly “transcenders of race,” O. J. Simpson, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods in the following decades; and reclaimed today by the likes of LeBron James, Colin Kaepernick, and Carmelo Anthony.

The Heritage is the story of the rise, fall, and fervent return of the athlete-activist. Through deep research and interviews with some of sports’ best-known stars—including Kaepernick, David Ortiz, Charles Barkley, and Chris Webber—as well as members of law enforcement and the military, Bryant details the collision of post-9/11 sports in America and the politically engaged post-Ferguson black athlete. Black & African American Sociology of Sports Social justice United States Politics & Government African American Studies Specific Demographics Sports History Social Sciences Civics & Citizenship Sports Americas Popular Culture Inspiring
Comprehensive Historical Context • Eye-opening Perspectives • Insightful Social Commentary • Thought-provoking Analysis

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Howard Bryant once again goes quickly to the heart of the issues and reveals the hypocrisy and self-serving nature of the League, the White House, the military and the public have all been players in a calculated game of deception, lies and naked greed and capitalism. A perfect companion piece to Full Dissidence.

In-depth and scathingly inciteful.

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This is a book to take your time with because it is a lot to digest. My good friend recommended the story to me and it’s been an important experience listening and learning about the sacrifice and the horrors that a lot of black athletes went through.

I’m a black person who works in sports and it provides excellent context to me to not take what I get the privilege of doing for granted while also acknowledging that this battle is still going on to this day in a different way. Take your time with this read because it is heavy and chapters can be depressing. However it is very important to maintain history and understand the figures that lived through some of the most polarizing times in our country. Men and women that had courage and were leaders in a time where they could be silenced or killed for it. Also learning about the people that conformed is also important too…I think a lot of people want to think of themselves as leaders, but sometimes doing what it takes to survive is the best thing for an individual but not the best thing for the heritage and the community as a whole. We learn about many figures who were at that crossroads in this story.

There are a lot of potentially triggering topics. The author does a good job to not sugar coat things. Due to the intensity, I suggest going one chapter at a time and letting things digest.

Informative and an Important Read for Everyone

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Well you’re going to have to read the book to find out. But if you’re watching sports today or playing sports, you’re doing yourself and most likely the community a disservice by “not” familiarizing yourself with the history, legacy & significance of The Heritage.

Learn what the author has to say about iconic athletes and their commitment to or lack thereof, to The Heritage. I won’t recount their names, as you know them sometimes by only their initials or just their first names. But do we praise their minds, or are we only fascinated with their bodies?

Oh & this pseudo Patriotism thing ... it’s in there.

What is The Heritage?

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Great writing, storytelling, with great information that may change the way you look at the stars of yesterday and today.I hope sports turns back into just a game.

Amazing read that is detailed and informative

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On target and still relevant today in 2025. Howard Bryant is one of the best commentators on sports, race, and politics of our generation.

Provocative and very on target.

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