Breaking Barriers: A Mindful Discussions Recap

Learn about the influential Black sports icons who paved the way for success now and forever.

From Jackie Robinson to Serena Williams, to Muhammad Ali, there's no doubt that the Black community has contributed (and continues to contribute) to the American sports industry. Not only do their successes deem them incredible athletes and role models, but their perseverance amid prejudiced eras and moments is a battle cry for everyone to keep pushing forward.

On our September 3 Mindful Discussions, Sabrina Boykin unpacked the history of sports in the U.S. and how the introduction of Black people "changed the trajectory of American sports." The most famous example of this change is Jackie Robinson; on April 15, 1947, he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African American man to play baseball for a Major League team.

Jackie Robinson batting for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 (Source: Wikipedia).

Being the first to break a color barrier is monumental but brings challenges with it. Robinson, for example, faced a myriad of jeers and racial epithets from the crowd as he went up to bat. During the racist era of the 1950s in America, it was a feat to break barriers. His perseverance is inspiring, and it should encourage all of us participating in Mindful Discussions to stand up in the face of adversity; not cower. Jackie Robinson's character and strong personality made a profound impact on not just the baseball community, but the American community in general. In 2013, Warner Bros. distributed the movie 42 (directed by Brian Helgeland) which chronicled Robinson's life.

Boykin also presented Serena and Venus Williams, two sisters who became world-renowned tennis players together. We discussed the story of their upbringings and how they came to be incredibly talented and inspiring women who would dominate the tennis sphere around the world. Their path did not come without struggle, either; the Williams sisters and their father faced a lot of adversity as they made their entrance into the sport. Richard Williams especially faced heat from the white tennis community simply because of prejudice in sports. Tennis, before the Williams sisters, was heavily regarded as a "white sport."

Serena Williams (left) and Venus Williams (right) at the U.S. Open in 2022 (Source: Los Angeles Times).

Richard Williams and his coaching of his two daughters teaches us how to break barriers. But why is breaking barriers important?

BySabrina implores us to be the best people that we can be through being mindful, purposeful, and positive. We set these examples in our communities and those values can then spread across the world. Breaking barriers is a part of being purposeful, and it is a part of having a positive impact on the world. When spaces are diversified, it gives everyone a better understanding of those around us. Black athletes have especially been forced to navigate historically white spaces as foreigners, and once they broke those color barriers, the possibilities became endless.

And remember:

Always Be Mindful of your impact, Be Purposeful in what you do, and Be Positive in what you say.

Best,

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