Legendary athlete and a great champion of civil rights, Bill Russell’s story is a beacon of hope for those who suffer from or hate bigotry, systemic racism, injustice, exploitative inequality, and dehumanization. Like the late Congressman from Georgia, John Lewis, Russell refused to let Jim Crowism derail his path to success and the full expression of his humanity. He is an inspiration to those who value human decency, integrity, and dignity and lean into the truth that the moral arc of the universe does indeed bend toward justice—not on its own, but from each person playing his or her part to protect and further justice for all. Bill Russell was one of the greatest American athletes of all time. But he was so much more than a basketball player. During his career in the turbulent late 1950s and ’60s, Russell always chose his words carefully clarifying “I’m not a basketball player. I am a man who happens to play basketball.”

REMARKABLY

2-Time High School Champion
2-Time NCAA Champion
11-Time NBA Champion
8 Consecutive NBA Championships
Winningest USA Professional Athlete of All-Time
5-Time NBA Most Valuable Player
Undefeated Record in NBA Playoff Game 7’s
NBA Finals MVP Trophy Named After Him
1st NBA Player to Average 20 Rebounds per game
1st Player to Get 50 Rebounds in one Game
4-Time NBA Rebounding Champion
1956 Olympic Gold Medalist
2-Time Inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Inaugural Recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award

MORE IMPORTANTLY

1^st Black Head Coach in NBA
1^st Black Head Coach in American Sports
1st African-American Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame
Marched with Martin Luther King, Jr.
Life-long Civil Rights Activist for the Equality and Dignity of All
Human Being who—while suffering racial abuse—Embodied Integrity and Exuded Dignity
2011 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
Became an influential mentor to many athletes, especially young black athletes

In President Obama’s words before bestowing The Presidential Medal of Honor:

“Bill Russell the man is someone who has stood up for the rights and dignity of all men,” Obama said of Russell at the ceremony. “He marched with King. He stood by Ali. When a restaurant refused to serve the black Celtics, he refused to play in the scheduled game. He endured insults and vandalism but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players, and made possible the success of so many who would fall.”

In 1966, The New York Times wrote that

“Russell’s main characteristics are pride, intelligence, an active and appreciative sense of humor, a preoccupation with dignity, a capacity for consideration once his friendship or sympathy has been aroused, and an unwillingness to compromise whatever truths he has accepted.”

Inarguably, much as Russell loved the Celtics, especially owner Walter Brown and coach Red Auerbach—who were both white and way ahead of the times on racial justice—and his black and white teammates, he made no bones about being cold toward Boston, its fans, and reporters due to years of being on the receiving end of continual bigotry and prejudice. He called Boston “a flea market of racism.” Many white fans in the 1950s and ’60s thought Russell, who became their highest-paid Celtic, was egotistical, paranoid, and hypocritical. Of course, we might be more understanding of his aloofness and silent surliness when we learn that while playing in Boston vandals broke into his house in Reading, Massachusetts, covered the walls with racist graffiti, damaged his trophies, and defecated in the beds.

Russell’s relationship with Boston was healed decades later when—with a new Boston fan base—he returned for a celebration and tribute to him and a re-retirement of his jersey number.

A few days after Donald Trump gave a fiery speech in September of 2017 saying, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’ Russell posted a photograph of himself to a previously unused Twitter account in which he was taking the knee in solidarity with the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests. Russell wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom and the image was captioned: “Proud to take a knee and to stand tall against social injustice.”

Bill Russell was a great basketball player. But he was so much more. He was an important voice, presence, activist, and mentor during disturbing times in America. We honor his life by valuing his deep convictions for the inherent dignity and freedom of all people.

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