For Purchase: The Commodification of African American Athletes
Gené Jolivet
My thesis book examines the historical commodification and exploitation of African American athletes, tracing their journey from the forced physical contests of the antebellum era to their present-day struggles within a profit-driven sports industry. Through a compelling blend of visual storytelling and critical analysis, my book exposes how Black athletes have been celebrated for their physicality while being systemically controlled, financially exploited, and often stripped of agency, revealing the enduring legacy of racial and economic inequities in sports.
Poster + Player Cards
Player Cards:
The collectible-style player cards reflect how Black athletes have long been presented in the media: polished, clean-cut, celebrated. But flip the card, and a darker reality is revealed. Strings and barcodes appear—symbolizing control, commodification, and the stripping of individuality. These dual images speak to the duality of perception: admired on the surface, exploited behind the scenes.
Poster:
The poster serves as a final statement—an emotional conclusion. What happens when the game is over? When the lights go out, the money’s been made, and the trophies are on the shelf—what remains? For many Black athletes, the answer is haunting: they were never truly seen as people, only as products. This poster leaves viewers with that hard truth.
