Jack Roosevelt Robinson rose from humble origins to cross baseball’s color line and become one of the most beloved men in America. A fierce integrationist, Robinson used his immense fame to speak out against the discrimination he saw on and off the field, angering fans, the press, and even teammates who had once celebrated him for “turning the other cheek.” After baseball, he was a widely-read newspaper columnist, divisive political activist and tireless advocate for civil rights, who later struggled to remain relevant as diabetes crippled his body and a new generation of leaders set a more militant course for the civil rights movement.

Jackie Robinson

They were one of the most dominating, infamous, magical teams of all time. A team that as much as any in memory, captured the spirit and the ethos of the time and city in which they played. Ultimately, the 1986 Mets were an unforgettable story, one told in colorful, entertaining, and unvarnished fashion in this four-part 30 for 30 documentary series from ESPN Films.

Once Upon a Time in Queens

A portrait of Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, who has been a leading voice for racial justice. In this ESPN documentary, Wallace shares stories of the events that shaped his life.

Fistful of Steel: The Rise of Bubba Wallace

Celebrated author and Nation magazine sports editor Dave Zirin tackles the myth that the NFL was somehow free of politics before Colin Kaepernick and other Black NFL players took a knee.