Social Justice 8: Understanding History: Athletes and Racism

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Huddle Up 2024-2025 Social Justice Social Justice 8: Understanding History: Athletes and Racism

Understanding History

Profiles of Athletes who experienced racism
From Racism and Resilience to Radical Leadership

Click on the athlete cards to learn about four athletes who experienced racism in sport and what they did to advocate for change.



Herbert Carnegie
Kept out of the NHL because he was a Black hockey player

Started Future Aces hockey school and created the Future Aces creed focused on character education

Herbert Carnegie was prevented from playing in the NHL because of the colour of his skin and devoted his time to develop a hockey school called Future Aces. He founded the Future Aces Foundation in 1987 that helped inspire youth and adults to be the best they can be



Chuck Ealey
Banned from the NFL because the league wouldn’t draft a Black quarterback. Why? They didn’t believe that a Black man could play this position, despite the fact that Chuck held (and still holds) the record for the most wins in college football history as a starting QB.

Came to Canada, won a championship in Hamilton, then joined the Toronto Argonauts and founded a youth leadership program called Undefeated Spirit, which provides scholarships for athletes heading to university.



George Armstrong
The 1st Indigenous player to play in the NHL. Has dealt with racism and colonialism throughout his life

George Armstrong was a captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs for 13 seasons and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. Today his granddaughter chooses to give back to the community by running hockey camps for Indigenous youth.



Willie O’Ree
The 1st Black Hockey player to play a game in the NHL.

Willie O'Ree was the first Black hockey player to play a game in the NHL. He played with the Boston Bruins. In 1998, he became the first diversity ambassador that championed divesity and inclusion, launching 39 hockey prorams and teaching over 120,000 children to play the game.

Impact of Sport

Looking back on the history of sport and the limitations for racialized athletes helps us understand the challenges that many athletes experience today.

  • Does Canada have equal representation of diversity in sports?

  • How does your understanding of Canada’s history help with understanding systemic racism and diversity in sport?

  • What would be different in sport today had there been more acceptance of Black, Indigenous and other racialized athletes in sport?

  • What positive changes have you seen in sport today and what still needs to change in order to make athletic communities more equitable?

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Exercise

Research and then take a moment to discuss with your class other examples of racism or inequity that has occurred with past or current athletes.
You can also research athletes who have become advocates against racism.

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