Which basketball player, also known as Lew Alcindor, was a major figure in race, sports, and activism and participated in the Cleveland Summit?

• A. Bill Russell
• B. Wilt Chamberlain
• C. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
• D. Magic Johnson

Answer: (C)

The key idea is recognizing a basketball legend who became a powerful voice on race and social issues and participated in a landmark activist moment. This player was known as Lew Alcindor early in his career and later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He joined Muhammad Ali and other prominent athletes at the Cleveland Summit, a gathering aimed at supporting Ali during his draft refusal, which cemented his role as an athlete who bridges sports and activism. He also publicly changed his name in 1971 after converting to Islam, reinforcing his identity as a committed activist and cultural figure. That combination of Lew Alcindor’s identity, involvement in the Cleveland Summit, and his later name change is why Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best answer.