Seasons of Change: The African American Athlete

As part of ESPN`s 2002 Black History Month programming, this show honors some of the "foot soldiers" of sports - the second and third generation of barrier breakers who continued the fight on the fields and courts of America. In the 50s and 60s, as the Civil Rights Movement escalated and began to level the playing field for all Americans, a small group of Black athletes were conducting their own non-violent revolution. This program pays tribute to the lives and careers of the second wave of Black athletes. In this roundtable program, we learn about the achievements of second generation athletes Charlie Scott, Tommie Smith, Dave Stewart, and Art Shell; superstars who toiled under a sometimes subtle and sometimes overt racism - but who helped to create an environment where today`s superstars thrive largely on their ability alone. We also hear about their experiences on the frontlines of change in the sporting world.