BSU journalism professor, students pen book on social justice in sports

Deanna Watson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·1 min read

LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Athletes responding to social injustice were told, by at least one cable TV host, to "shut up and dribble."

If our sports figures were considering such instruction, that became a mute point after the 2020 death of George Floyd in police custody. Athletes and coaches from a variety of sports disciplines began to speak out against injustice.

Adam J. Kuban, professor of journalism at Ball State University, speaks with Margaret Christopherson, a reporter from the Journal & Courier, about his new book "Facing Social Justice in Sports", on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at Main Street Books in Lafayette, Ind.
Adam J. Kuban, professor of journalism at Ball State University, speaks with Margaret Christopherson, a reporter from the Journal & Courier, about his new book "Facing Social Justice in Sports", on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, at Main Street Books in Lafayette, Ind.

Dr. Adam Kuban, a Ball State University journalism professor, chronicled that response in a new book, "Facing Social Justice in Sports," an effort aided by his students.

Edited by Kuban, BSU undergraduate students in the professor's intermediate Sports Reporting & Writing course penned stories on social injustice in a number of areas -- racism, gender equality, poverty, international-student rights, mental health, disability and LGBTQ+ challenges.

Margaret Christopherson, reporter from the Journal & Courier, interviews Adam J. Kuban's, professor of Journalism at Ball State, about his new book "Facing Social Justice in Sports", on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Lafayette, Ind.
Margaret Christopherson, reporter from the Journal & Courier, interviews Adam J. Kuban's, professor of Journalism at Ball State, about his new book "Facing Social Justice in Sports", on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Lafayette, Ind.

The chapters feature over 20 athletes, coaches, and sports media professionals throughout different points in their careers, according to a BSU description of the book.

Kuban appeared at Main Street Books in Lafayette Friday evening to discuss the book with Journal & Courier reporter Margaret Christopherson.

Several copies of Adam J. Kuban's, professor of Journalism at Ball State, book "Facing Social Justice in Sports" sit on a shelf at Second Flight Books, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Lafayette, Ind.
Several copies of Adam J. Kuban's, professor of Journalism at Ball State, book "Facing Social Justice in Sports" sit on a shelf at Second Flight Books, on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in Lafayette, Ind.

"That summer," Kuban said before the book's release, "we had sports figures taking a stand in support of George Floyd and other social justice causes, like the Black Lives Matter movement, and that prompted the question: What life experiences have these athletes, coaches, sports media people even, had that led them to advocate for certain social justice causes."

The new book, which features a cover designed by Dr. Shantanu Suman, a BSU art professor, is available for purchase at Main Street Books, Amazon, Walmart and other outlets.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: BSU journalism professor, students pen book on social justice in sports