On June 4, 1967, 12 Black athletes and 1 elected official gathered to support Muhammad Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War, advancing the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. One of the most important gatherings in the history of sport, the Cleveland Summit has inspired generations of athletes, fans, and activists to advocate for social justice.
An 11x NBA Champion, 12x All-Star, and 5x league MVP with the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell transcended the pace & defensive style of the NBA and is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. Russell’s civil rights advocacy includes organizing the first player boycott in 1961, attending the 1963 March on Washington, and opening integrated basketball camps for youth.
A 4x Pro Bowler, 1x All-Pro, and 1958 Rookie of the Year, Bobby Mitchell tallied 14,078 total yards and 91 touchdowns in 11 years (4 with Cleveland, 7 with Washington) as one of the most talented catch-run yardage players in NFL history. In addition to the 1967 Cleveland Summit, Mitchell worked with the NAACP, UNCF, and National Urban League to advance civil rights.
Elected in 1967 in Cleveland, OH, Carl Stokes became the first Black Mayor of a major U.S. city, setting the blueprint for Black mayoral candidates moving forward, as well as being a pioneering environmental justice advocate through addressing pollution impacting communities of color. Following his tenure as Mayor, Stokes went on to become an Emmy-winning news anchor in New York.
The sixth-leading rusher in Kansas City Chiefs franchise history, Curtis McClinton played in three AFL All-Star games and was a key part of the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl & AFL title teams. Co-founding the Black Economic Union of Kansas City with Jim Brown, McClinton invested heavily in Black-owned businesses, as well as was instrumental in addressing housing discrimination through advocating for Kansas City’s fair-housing law passed in 1967.
A 9x Pro Bowler, 8x All-Pro, and NFL champion, Jim Brown is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to every step on a football field. The man who organized the 1967 Cleveland Summit, Brown’s legacy as a civil rights advocate focused on economic development & community engagement with the Black community. This includes founding the Black Economic Union which supported nearly 400 Black-owned businesses, as well as starting the Amer-I-Can Foundation to support justice-impacted youth.
After a great career at the University of Detroit Mercy, Jim Shorter went on to play 7 years (2 with Cleveland, 4 with Washington, 1 with Pittsburgh) as a defensive back in the NFL and returned to Cleveland in 1967 when Jim Brown invited him to be a part of the Summit.
Following a Hall of Fame collegiate career, John Wooten went on to become an NFL legend, being a member of the Cleveland Browns 1964 Championship team, 2x Pro Bowler, and 3x Super Bowl winning Executive. Co-organizing the 1967 Cleveland Summit with one of his best friends/teammates Jim Brown, Wooten helped set the standard for athlete activism. His work includes supporting the Black Economic Union and organizing the Fritz Pollard Alliance to champion diversity in coaching & NFL front offices.
One of the greatest collegiate and professional basketball players of all-time, Lew Alcindor’s (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) accolades include 3x NCAA Championships, 19x All-Star selections, 6x MVP Awards, 6x NBA Championships, 15x All-NBA selections, and creating the dominant sky hook shot. The youngest member of the 1967 Cleveland Summit, Abdul-Jabbar has been a monumental voice in athlete activism for the last 60 years. From standing against systemic racism, gender discrimination, and religious intolerance, to establishing the Skyhook Foundation to provide STEAM opportunities to underserved communities, his legacy as an activist continues to impact individuals around the world.
A Cleveland native, Lorenzo Ashley played football at Indiana University, leading to a brief professional career as an offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. Following football, Ashley’s work in the community included leading youth groups, serving as the National Director of Personnel for the Black Economic Union, and working with justice-impacted individuals to help reintegrate them into society.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali was the first person to win the World Heavyweight Championship on three different occasions, defending it a total of 19 times. Named “Fighter of the Year” five times by Ring Magazine and “Sportsman of the Century” by Sports Illustrated in 1999, there has never been another athlete quite like Ali. As a champion for civil rights, his refusal to serve in Vietnam sparked the 1967 Cleveland Summit gathering. Whether it was speaking out against racism on college campuses, advocating for religious freedom, or traveling to Afghanistan as a UN Messenger of Peace, Ali helped set the blueprint for athlete activism.
Playing collegiately at Southern University, Sid Williams was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1964 and finished his six-year career as a 2x NFL Champion. Off the field, Williams’ career in civil service includes supporting business development with the Black Economic Union in Los Angeles, CA, serving as a legislative aide for former Councilman David S. Cunningham Jr., and being the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas under the Clinton Administration.
Setting six records in rushing and receiving at Central Michigan University, Walter Beach went on to join the AFL’s Boston Patriots in 1960 before transitioning to the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, where he was a key contributor to their 1964 Championship Team. A speaker at the 2022 Cleveland Summit Marker Unveiling, Beach’s commitment to social justice spans decades. This includes being a Special Assistant to Mayor Carl Stokes in the 1960s, working with youth in education, and serving as the Director of the Northeastern Division of Jim & Monique Brown’s Amer-I-Can Foundation for Social Change.
A 5x All-NFL & Pro Bowl selection, 2x Super Bowl Champion, 5x NFL Champion, and a member of the All-1960s Team, Willie Davis was the Green Bay Packers’ first Black Captain and one of the league’s most skilled defensive players throughout his 12-year career. The second ever recipient of the NFL’s Alan Page Community Award in 1967, Davis’ impact beyond the field stems from receiving his MBA and building experience to serve on multiple corporate boards, many of which he was the only person of color.
In June 2022, the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition in partnership with the Cavaliers and the City of Cleveland dedicated a historical marker at the site of the famous 1967 Cleveland Summit. The marker pays tribute on the 55th anniversary of the press conference and honors its lasting imprint on the history of athlete activism.
The marker was created by designers from the Marcus Graham Project and honors the original participants of the Summit, as well as identifies the site of the former Negro Industrial Building (now American Cancer Society), the exact coordinates of where the Summit took place.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Rock Entertainment Group will be hosting a new Annual Summit set to launch in June 2024 aiming to enhance strategy around advancing social justice through sport. Additional details to come.
Why Cleveland? From breaking color barriers in the NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL, to Carl Stokes becoming the first Black Mayor of a major American city, Cleveland has been at the forefront of empowering social justice.