The development of sport in the modern era has an equal share in the history of inclusive rights, especially as it concerns women and minorities. Long labeled a hard sell, these groups have long fought for equal access to sports and recreation. Pioneers like Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King all overcame those challenges and reached the pinnacle of their sport in this era. This has led to a gradual revision of Americans' ideology towards minorities in sports today. However, this was a difficult process and these pioneers had to fight relentlessly not only for inclusion, but also for recognition of their status in the sport. As we examine the history of sport as it pertains to these athletes, we will focus on the challenges each of these athletes faced in their era and examine some of the inclusive practices of this time. By the conclusion, the reader will gain a better understanding of the plight and achievements of female athletes and minorities, who were pioneers in the first place. During the racially segregated Jim Crow era, sports were no different than restaurants, bathrooms, or schools. There were places where whites could play sports, and there were specific and usually less appropriate places where minorities could play sports. The American pastime, baseball, is a great example of how the sport enforced the Jim Crow laws and culture of the time. Major League Baseball denied black ballplayers access to play, and thus contributed to the creation of the Negro Leagues, which in essence was the first step toward eventual integration. However, only a few saw that goal at the time, most were simply excited to play and watch baseball. The beginning of the Negro Leagues in America was important... middle of paper... related to sports. However, Guttmann delves into the negativity of Title IX; “Although Title IX has forced changes, it has not worked miracles. P. 222” Title IX was by no means the end of the fight for women's equality in sports, but a great step forward toward that goal. It caused controversy and confusion. How should the legislation be interpreted? And the fact that there were more male athletes than female athletes led many to believe that Title IX would fail. However, as the years have passed, the number of female athletes in college has increased dramatically, meaning that Title IX has been an important and harmful part of the feminist movement to achieve equality. Final point: These three examples lay the foundation for the current trend in today's world. sport. Blacks and whites play together: Wimbledon paid both male and female winners the same prize money, etc.