This is much more than a group of stories that feature the talents, triumphs, and tempests of the careers of Latinos in sport. It is a book of living history, rich in culture and tradition. It is a collection of firsts, of legends, and of names that will soon become familiar to the world. The book is a treasure box of inspiring stories that were, at times, created out of dire hardship and oppression.

Human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality, internationally recognized expert on sports issues, scholar, and author Richard Lapchick is often described as “the racial conscience of sport.” He is the DeVos Eminent Scholar Chair and Director of the Sport Business Management Graduate Program in the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida. He founded Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society, the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), and the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, and he is now the president of the Consortium and director of the Institute.