At one point in the recent history of the United States, it didn't take much for a Black athlete to get noticed by the FBI. Athletes like Muhammad Ali, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos had FBI files for standing against racism when segregation and subjugation were the norm.
It turns out a Black athlete didn't actually have to do much to be considered a potential threat back then. All he had to do was be successful. Here are the stories of five Black athletes who were targeted by the FBI — some without ever knowing it.
Jack Johnson
In 1908, Jack Johnson became the world's first African American boxing champion, which made him a clear a target of all-white law enforcement.