Celebrating Bill Russell’s 86th birthday in photos
On Boston Celtics legendary big man Bill Russell’s 86th birthday, we celebrate his long and rich life and contributions to basketball and civil rights.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST
The Louisiana native was compelled to lend his support for the nascent civil rights movement after his experiences with racism from childhood all the way up to his pro playing career. He has never shied away from being outspoken on key social justice issues since.
Lew Alcindor (right), later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with Russell (left) and Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in 1967, united by their struggles for civil rights (Bettmann Archive/ Getty Images).
Ex-Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown and other prominent African-American athletes supporting boxer Muhammad Ali’s refusal to fight in the Vietnam War in 1967. Pictured: (front) Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Lew Alcindor; (back) Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten (AP Photo/Tony Tomsic).
