Why read Globetrotting?

Book cover of Globetrotting: African American Athletes and Cold War Politics

Book description

Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Union deplored the treatment of African Americans by the U.S. government as proof of hypocrisy in the American promises of freedom and equality. This probing history examines government attempts to manipulate international perceptions of U.S. race relations during the Cold War by sending African…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Globetrotting as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Matthew & Mark Jacob

Author

During the Cold War, the propaganda battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was intense during the 1950s and 1960s. Communist leaders in Moscow constantly attacked America as hypocritical for promoting freedom abroad while treating its Black residents as second-class citizens.

Damion L. Thomas provides a fascinating look at how the U.S. government countered by sponsoring Black athletes on goodwill tours abroad. Thomas refers to government directives and other papers to shine a light on this diplomatic strategy.

From Matt & Mark's list on The best books about the intersection of sports and race.