African Americans in the Olympics, Then and Now

With the Tokyo Olympics set to begin on July 23, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis might not be running circles around his competition anymore in the 100-meter dash, but he’ll still be very much involved in the festivities. Aside from coaching the next generation of superstar talent, he’s partnered with Silk (of dairy-​substitute fame, not the R&B group, y’all) to bless five HBCU track and field programs throughout the country with $10,000 donations to offset the costs of uniforms, equipment, and transportation. And in an interview with The Root, the track and field legend discussed his decision to address the funding discrepancies that so many HBCU athletic programs face, his excitement for the Summer Olympics, and how the sport has evolved since his heyday. — Jay Connor

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