Above the Rim

Hall-of-famer Elgin Baylor was one of basketball’s all-time-greatest players—an innovative athlete, team player, and quiet force for change. One of the first professional African-American players, he inspired others on and off the court. But when traveling for away games, many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was black. One night, Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press, the public, and the NBA. Winner of the 2021 Orbis Pictus Award, Above the Rim is a poetic, exquisite telling of the life of an underrecognized athlete and a celebration of standing up for what is right.