Forty Million Dollar Slaves

The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete

By: William C. Rhoden

Narrated by: William C. Rhoden

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

From Jackie Robinson to Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe, African American athletes have been at the center of modern culture, their on-the-field heroics admired and stratospheric earnings envied. But for all their money, fame, and achievement, says former New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden, Black athletes still find themselves on the periphery of true power in the multibillion-dollar industry their talent built.

Provocative and controversial, Rhoden's Forty Million Dollar Slaves weaves a compelling narrative of Black athletes in the United States, from the plantation to their beginnings in 19th-century boxing rings and at the first Kentucky Derby to the history-making accomplishments of notable figures such as Jesse Owens, Althea Gibson, and Willie Mays.

Rhoden makes the cogent argument that Black athletes' "evolution" has merely been a journey from literal plantations to today's figurative ones, in the form of collegiate and professional sports programs. Drawing from his decades as a sportswriter, Rhoden contends that Black athletes' exercise of true power is as limited today as when masters forced their slaves to race and fight.

Sweeping and meticulously detailed, Forty Million Dollar Slaves is an eye-opening exploration of a metaphor we only thought we knew.

©2006 William C. Rhoden (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Rhoden's writing is intelligent and cogent...this is an insightful look at the role of blacks in sports they dominate but hardly control." ( Publishers Weekly)

Black Leadership Needed in Sports

Well written and easy to follow. Speaks about the plight and how to improve it for black athletes.

Well done

I’ve long respected William Rhoden, and this book sheds like on simple but powerful realities those with power don’t like to discuss.

I’m so thankful it was narrarated by William.

Solid read!

Attention sport players

I would reccomend this book to anyone playing sports in a high level or anyone who is a parent of someone playing on a high level. The gems found in this book provide a high level of understanding of the complexities that are involved in the world of professional athletics from a racial standpoint. Maybe the author could have hired someone else to do the actual reading but no one can tell your story like yourself...for a full review visit The black Awareness Book Club on Facebook

Great book!

This book has helped me to better understand the history of professional sports in relation to the Black athlete.

A must listen for parents and student athletes

This should be a must listen for parents and student athletes. I think all pro athletes should listen to this too.

Eye opening perspective. Loved it.

I think every black athlete, man woman boy or girl, should all read this in order to gain a universal understanding to avoid the neutrality of a Michael Jordan and control the conveyor like a Lavar Ball.

Good content but poor narrator

I struggled to finish mostly because the narrator's voice was a bit of a drag. Great book otherwise.

Great read.

Very insightful. Great retelling of history and sports, and how black athletes have over come struggles. Also what can be done in the future to build up African Americans financially, socially, and otherwise.

Great historical summary

I appreciated the high quality research presented. The cadence of the narration was perfect. I will be on the look out for other titles by this author.

Enlightening

Very good book lots of sports history very well told I enjoyed it very much