The Heritage

A fascinating, insightful look at race, politics, and sport. --Booklist It may make people uncomfortable, but I'm pleased that Howard Bryant has chosen to tell the story of our heritage, and even more pleased that there are still ballplayers today who are willing to stand up for what they think is right. --Henry Aaron, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Serious times call for serious action. After leaving a communist totalitarian country when I was eighteen, I was free to speak out, and I did. The Heritage gives the clearest breakdown I've read on why we athletes not only have the right to advocate for what we believe in--but oftentimes a duty. --Martina Navratilova, eighteen-time tennis Grand Slam winner If you believe that sports can be a lens for interpreting and understanding our world, then The Heritage is the Rosetta stone. Howard Bryant's latest explains so much about racism and the black athlete's place in US history that every chapter could be its own college course. But Bryant's book is less history than twenty-first-century prophetic fire: a polemic homing in on the ways that militarism, sports, and black athletic resistance have become volcanically explosive in the era of Trump. This is the book for explaining our times, whether you give a damn about sports or not. --Dave Zirin, sports editor, The Nation, and author of Jim Brown: Last Man Standing It may make people uncomfortable, but I'm pleased that Howard Bryant has chosen to tell the story of our heritage, and even more pleased that there are still ballplayers today who are willing to stand up for what they think is right. --Henry Aaron, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Serious times call for serious action. After leaving a communist totalitarian country when I was eighteen, I was free to speak out, and I did. The Heritage gives the clearest breakdown I've read on why we athletes not only have the right to advocate for what we believe in--but oftentimes a duty. --Martina Navratilova, eighteen-time tennis Grand Slam winner If you believe that sports can be a lens for interpreting and understanding our world, then The Heritage is the Rosetta stone. Howard Bryant's latest explains so much about racism and the black athlete's place in US history that every chapter could be its own college course. But Bryant's book is less history than twenty-first-century prophetic fire: a polemic homing in on the ways that militarism, sports, and black athletic resistance have become volcanically explosive in the era of Trump. This is the book for explaining our times, whether you give a damn about sports or not. --Dave Zirin, sports editor, The Nation, and author of Jim Brown: Last Man Standing Jackie Robinson was the inspiration for me to speak out on racial issues. It may make people uncomfortable, but I'm pleased that Howard has chosen to tell the story of our heritage, and even more pleased that there are still ballplayers today who are willing to stand up for what they think is right. --Henry Aaron, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer If you believe that sports can be a lens for interpreting and understanding our world, then The Heritage is the Rosetta stone. Howard Bryant's latest explains so much about racism and the black athlete's place in US history that every chapter could be its own college course. But Bryant's book is less history than twenty-first-century prophetic fire: a polemic homing in on the ways that militarism, sports, and black athletic resistance have become volcanically explosive in the era of Trump. This is the book for explaining our times, whether you give a damn about sports or not. --Dave Zirin, sports editor, The Nation, and author of Jim Brown: Last Man Standing Serious times call for serious action. After leaving a communist totalitarian country when I was eighteen, I was free to speak out, and I did. The Heritage gives the clearest breakdown I've read on why we athletes not only have the right to advocate for what we believe in--but oftentimes a duty. --Martina Navratilova