Sports are often viewed as an apolitical activity primarily meant for leisure and enjoyment, but there is more to sports than just entertainment. Throughout American history, sports--and the athletes who play them--have been central to political discourse and action (particularly the politics of race), not separate from it. Moreover, Black people have played a critically important role in the world of sport, using it as a tool both to achieve upward mobility and advocate for social justice. In this course, we will critically examine how and why sports have been central to the (Black) American experience. Starting with the earliest days of organized sports and ending in the present with sports activism in the Black Lives Matter era, we will consider how athletes have used sports to: combat racism and sexism by debunking racist and sexist stereotypes; advocate for social and political reforms using sports as a site for protest; and achieve upward mobility through collective bargaining and the commodification and commercialization of Black American culture. Throughout this investigation, we will examine the obstacles, opportunities, failures, and successes of sports in shaping American society and politics, homing in on key events, movements, and people, with a particular emphasis on Black athletes.