Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the religion of whiteness at work, particularly in its ordering of the Black bodies in the American sporting world. It highlights the religion, in particular that of the Protestant Christianity, whose worldview has been largely framed by race. The book then focuses on the recent literature that seeks to locate the Christian faith of the color-line breaking baseball player, Jackie Robinson, as the primary explanation for his ability to endure extreme racism on and off of the field. It also analyzes the history of public reception to the boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman throughout their respective lives. The book attempts to refract tennis star Serena Williams’s strong reaction to the umpire during the finals of the 2018 United States Open through a religious prism.