A Gary Corbitt thought on Running While Black

“Running While Black”

By Alison Mariella Desir

This is an important book because it’s the first time the sport of long-distance running is being critiqued from an African American perspective. Alison’s goal is to disrupt the running industry and advocate for racial justice. My father’s (Ted Corbitt) influence on the sport and my work to preserve running history is profiled in Chapter 12.

The book gives readers the facts on the influence the New York Pioneer Club (NYPC) has had on the sport, and how Black running history has been ignored over the years. Readers will also gain an understanding that Black athletic achievements in running date back to the 1880s.