“America says we are a great democratic society and other people should follow our example. Well, I say we benefited from slavery, and as a nation, we never faced that because the people in power chose not to.”

American professional football player, civil rights activist, and actor

Jim Brown was an American professional football player, civil rights activist, and actor. He played fullback for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965 and remains closely associated with the early history of the modern NFL. Brown was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team in every season he played, and he won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award three times. He helped the Browns win the 1964 NFL championship, led the league in rushing yards in eight of his nine seasons, and retired holding most major rushing records. His career is often remembered for both his on-field dominance and his work outside football.