Synopsis

Now, some 40 years after the American Civil Rights Movement set the stage for greater participation and integration of blacks in sport, the complexion of this country's ball fields, gyms, and stadiums-though not owners' suites and administrative boardrooms-has been forever changed. In Souled Out? award-winning author Shaun Powell pulls no punches in asking and answering tough questions concerning the state of blacks' sports participation today.

Sure to make you think, and likely to make you blink, Powell's work is unique in its objective, honest approach to this too-often polarizing subject. What emerges are an authentic picture and forward-looking perspective that challenge all of us to address the remaining obstacles to ensure that sports are equally accessible and rewarding for people of all colors.

Biography

Shaun Powell has been a sports columnist at Newsday in New York since 1993. Prior to that, Powell had a similar role for newspapers in St. Louis, Dallas, and Miami. Through his career he's covered every major sporting event, including the Olympics, Super Bowl, Masters, World Series, NBA Finals, Wimbledon, and Final Four.

Powell's work has garnered awards from the Associated Press and National Association of Black Journalists, and he is former president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association. A highly sought after commentator on sports issues, figures, and events, Powell is a frequent guest on national and local radio and television programs.

Powell resides in Montclair, New Jersey, with his wife, Terry, and daughter, Victoria.