Assignment task:
On page 49 of the chapter The Plantation, in William Rhoden's $40 Million Slaves, he speaks of Frederick Douglass, one of the great African American figures of the 19th century, who escaped slavery and went on to become one of his country's great freedom fighters and intellectuals. In his autobiography, Douglass tells of a physical battle that he had with a certain Mr. Covey, one of his most brutal slave masters. After their life-and-death struggle, Douglass tells the reader that "I now resolved that, however long I might remain a slave in form, the day had passed forever when I could be a slave in fact."
Rhoden tells us that although Douglass was not involved in the fight with his master for the purpose of sport, "he translated the symbolism of confrontation in real terms.[...] For many blacks, sports were similarly symbolic ways of physically transcending the system of bondage, a space for freedom." (49)
In the video, The Journey of the African American Athlete, also written by William Rhoden, Jesse Owens' and Joe Louis' victories over white opponents were seen to be larger wins than mere athletic triumphs. They spoke to greater societal concerns. But while Owens and Louis were forced to project calm and refined personalities, Marion Motley projected a different attitude. He seemed to share certain characteristics with Jack Johnson. You must reflect on this.
Using precise examples from both The Plantation and The Journey of the African American Athlete, which means illustrating with direct quotations, discuss how these works show that for a long time the Black athlete has been engaged in a battle against falsehoods that are used by some to establish whiteness as a superior and ideal state. You must always use direct quotes and, in the case of The Plantation, page citations to support your points. For the video, you can say, Motley says, "I was ..." (JAAA). You can abbreviate the film title this way.