Desegregation of white sport in the United States.edited
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Desegregation of white sport in the United States
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Desegregation of white sport in the United States
The experiences of Black baseball players in the minor league system and the Robinson brothers in Los Angeles illustrate the possibilities and difficulties African American athletes had during the integration into white sports (Winfield, 2014).
Jackie and Mack Robinson were gifted athletes who were successful in various sports. Jackie Robinson was a track and field, football, and basketball player at UCLA. In 1947, he broke through the color barrier in Major League Baseball. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, sprinter Mack Robinson lost to Jesse Owens in the 200-meter dash (Kaliss, 2010). However, in a society still prejudiced and divided, their accomplishments did not ensure they would be treated fairly or given attention. When Mack Robinson returned from the Olympics, he was forced to work as a street sweeper in Pasadena and experienced discrimination and unemployment. Jackie Robinson faced bigotry and animosity from players, spectators, and management throughout his baseball career. After he retired, he was prohibited from teaching. Their experiences demonstrate that African-American athletes had to overcome challenges, make sacrifices to achieve their goals and leave their mark on white sports.
The experiences of Black minor league baseball players shed light on the inconsistencies and complications of integration in white sports. Jackie Robinson's entry into the Major Leagues significantly advanced racial integration. However, it also had an adverse effect on the Negro Leagues, which had provided the Black community with entertainment, pride, and money since the 1920s. Following Robinson's footsteps, many of the top players from the Negro Leagues joined white clubs, leaving behind their previous owners, teammates, and supporters. Furthermore, some players faced difficult living circumstances and prejudice in the lesser leagues, particularly in the South, where Jim Crow laws were still in effect (Winfield, 2014).
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Despite their abilities and expertise, some players were placed on inferior teams or leagues, while others suffered abuse or exploitation from their white employers. Some athletes also encountered hostility or jealousy from white opponents or teammates who saw them as dangerous due to their performance or presence. These accounts counter the widely held belief that Jackie Robinson was a brave pioneer who allowed Black athletes to participate in white sports.
In conclusion, the experiences of the Black baseball players in the minor league system and the Robinson brothers in Los Angeles demonstrate that desegregation in white sports was a complicated and contentious process involving successes and setbacks for African-American athletes and their communities.
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References
A Long Way from Home: The Untold Story of Baseball's Desegregation digital archive. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/11/resources/11801 Accessed October 21, 2023.
Kaliss, G. (2010). The Robinson brothers in Los Angeles: Sport and the complexity of African American integration before 1947. Journal of Sport History, 37(3), 383–398.
Winfield, D. (2014). Pride and Perseverance: The Story of the Negro Leagues (2014) - Movie
. Moviefone. https://www.moviefone.com/movie/pride-and-perseverance-the-story-of-the-
negro-leagues/RSvRQ92x7hcIMbogFJbXy1/main/