UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. —  The modern Olympic Games began in 1896, and over the course of Olympic history, African American athletes have both competed and directed attention on racial inequities in the United States and around the world.

In the book, “Black Mercuries: African American Athletes, Race, and the Modern Olympic Games,” Mark Dyreson, professor of kinesiology, and his co-authors, David Wiggins and Kevin Witherspoon, explore the experiences of African American athletes.

Join the authors for either of two public conversations. On Thursday, Jan. 26 at 3:05 p.m., the talk will be held in 127 Noll Laboratory and on Zoom. On Friday, Jan. 27 at 2:30 p.m., the authors will convene at the Clemens Family Theater in the Penn State All-Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium.

These events are hosted by the Penn State All-Sports Museum, the Penn State Center for the Study of Sports in Society and the Bethune Society, a Penn State student organization.