Basketball Trafficking: The Global Pipeline of Promise and Exploitation // Dr. Javier Wallace

During this walk, Dr. Javier Wallace joins Walk With TFB to explore the intersections of sport, migration, and education through the lens of his forthcoming book, Basketball Trafficking: Stolen Black Panamanian Dreams. A Black Panamanian historian and former college athlete, Dr. Wallace shares his journey from the court to the classroom and unpacks how the U.S. college basketball system exploits international college athletes, particularly those navigating the F-1 visa process.Together, we examine how race, nationality, and opportunity collide to create vulnerabilities for athletes seeking to fulfill their dreams through sport. Dr. Wallace’s insights challenge us to see beyond the competition and confront the global structures that enable exploitation in higher education and college athletics.Key Themes: International college athletes, F-1 visas, trafficking in sport, Black international identity, Global educationLearn more about Dr. Wallace’s work at https://www.javierwallace.com/Follow Walk With TFB on Instagram for more global conversations at the intersection of sport, education, and equity.