RIP Tommy Heinsohn, president of the first official NBA players union. He didn't have perhaps as much on the line as the league's Black players (or the non-stars), but he stood with them.

The Cap gets into Heinsohn's role in shaping that first NBPA. He had to look the Celtics owner in the eye and tell him they'd strike if the owners didn't recognize the union and grant the players a pension plan. https://www.raptorshq.com/2020/10/27/21528351/book-review-the-cap-joshua-mendelsohn-cba-nbpa-larry-fleischer

That particular argument came to a head in 1964, then continued on with Oscar Robertson's lawsuit against the league in 1970, and on to the near-strike of 1983. If nothing else we learn something important: progress can take time, but it only happens through solidarity.

I should add: progress doesn't HAVE to take a long time. Every delay and stall is because of owners/management/the powers that be. Every. Single. Time.