logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
36m 8s

Muhammad Ali vs. The Draft | Black Athle...

Wondery
About this episode

Muhammad Ali risked his career and even his freedom to take a stand against the Vietnam War. He followed in the footsteps of men like baseball great Jackie Robinson and singer Paul Robeson, who started out playing football. These Black athletes are all part of a heritage of working for social justice, according to journalist Howard Bryant. Today, Bryant joins Lindsay to talk about his book The Heritage: Black Athletes, A Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism. 

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-scandal/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
Ruby Ridge Standoff | Visions of Armageddon | 1
Radical Christian survivalist Randy Weaver moves his family into the remote mountains of Idaho to wait out the Apocalypse. But his growing involvement in a local neo-Nazi group draws the attention of federal investigators.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, cura ... Show More
37m 43s
Jul 3
ENCORE Watergate | The Smoking Gun | 5
President Nixon fights the release of his secret tapes. But with the country thrust into a constitutional crisis, Nixon has to make a gut-wrenching decision.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/ ... Show More
43m 59s
Jul 1
ENCORE: Watergate | The Cancer Within | 4
Senate hearing sets in motion a new crisis. With the cover-up unraveling, White House counsel John Dean takes matters into his own hands.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterLis ... Show More
41m 9s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
35 | Hate It Or Love It | For Real, For Real
Black people’s accomplishments aren’t usually celebrated without creating some discomfort in the white cultural zeitgeist. There’s something about Black Excellence that often leads to knee jerk criticisms. From the complicated Jack Johnson, to the modern-day struggles of Serena W ... Show More
37m 59s
Dec 2024
Being a Soldier During the Thirty Years War: Interview with Dr. Lucian Staiano-Daniels
What was it like to be a soldier during the Thirty Years War? I spoke with Dr. Lucian Staiano-Daniels, author of the upcoming book The War People: A Social History of Common Soldiers during the Era of the Thirty Years War, about what we can know of the thousands of men who fought ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2025
Buffalo Soldiers | The Brass Letters | 1
In the spring of 1865, with the Civil War finally over, American lawmakers began to debate whether Black soldiers would have a permanent place in the peacetime Army. Some 180,000 Black men had fought in the Union ranks, but never before in the nation’s history had they been allow ... Show More
38m 35s
Aug 2024
Bob Marley | One Love | 4
Despite an assassination attempt, Bob Marley continues to spread political messages of peace, freedom and anti-colonialism throughout the world. But health issues from his childhood are catching up with him, and he'll have to confront a devastating diagnosis. Today, his face appe ... Show More
43m 54s
Jun 12
LBJ Puts Thurgood Marshall On The Court (1967)
It's June 12. This day in 1967, President Johnson nominates Thurgood Marshall as the first Black Supreme Court justice. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss Marshall's stories legal career up until this point -- but why Johnson was still taking a major risk in putting him forward.Sign ... Show More
23m 3s
Dec 2024
Oprah's Empire | Former OWN Executive Scott Garner on Oprah Winfrey And The Evolution of Television | 5
Former Oprah Winfrey Network executive Scott Garner discusses the media landscape of the 1980s and how Oprah Winfrey redefined daytime television.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynews ... Show More
35m 43s
Apr 2024
Buried Alive | The Elusive Gary Krist | 5
Atlanta-based journalist Steve Fennessy began researching Gary Steven Krist’s past for an article he was writing for Atlanta Magazine back in 2006. The assignment took him on a deep dive into Krist’s life, from his upbringing through the aftermath of one of the most notorious cri ... Show More
35m 13s
Sep 2024
33 | Bad and Bougie | Complicated Champion Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson, the Galveston Giant, is known for two things: his brutal fists and fearless audacity. Before Muhammad Ali, Johnson shocked the world with his unrivaled boxing skills, shattering racial barriers and igniting racial tensions. On July 4th, 1910, in "The Fight of the Ce ... Show More
36 m
Dec 2024
Oprah's Empire | The Oprah Effect | 3
Oprah launches her book club, fights off an entire industry of cattlemen - and becomes a billionaire in the process.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Business Mover ... Show More
32m 26s
Jan 2025
Michelle Yeoh: Never Give Up | 262
Michelle Yeoh was a gravity-defying, glass ceiling-smashing Hong Kong action film star for years, until she decides to tackle Hollywood. But her road to international stardom is paved with heartbreak and struggles. She endures years fighting against typecasting and borderline rac ... Show More
41m 23s