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.