Martin Luther King Day: Athletes Who Broke Racial Barriers in the United States

There used to be a day when race stood in the way of athletes playing a game they were great at.

Athletes breaking down racial barriers were a huge part of the Civil Rights movement, but even after that there was still great discrimination in American sports until recent decades. 

Now there is a day in baseball where many of the league's players honor Jackie Robinson by wearing his No. 42. 

America has come a long way since Martin Luther King Jr. led the fight for equal rights for Americans of all races, and in celebration of his birthday let's take a look at some African-American athletes who broke down the racial barrier in America. 

Begin Slideshow