Correction: The article is referring to the state-developed course on African American history and not the AP course. Thanks to my friends at New American History for the correction. I’ve been thinking a lot about the interview with Reggie Jackson as part of his return to Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, for the Negro Leagues tribute game last Thursday. Jackson joined a panel of former players, including Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and David Ortiz for a discussion about the history and legacy of the Negro League.
Couldn’t agree more about Reggie killing it. A few months ago I watched an autobiographical video on Prime (I think) in which Reggie pulled no punches about his treatment in general and in Birmingham in particular. In April I was traveling solo in Alabama and went to Rickwood Field during their prep for the MLB game. I met the young man, Jabreil Weir who is the groundskeeper and more. He took me around the stadium (it was closed) for a personal tour! He was so knowledgeable and so reverent about the place—“the holy grail of baseball’. He talked about meeting Reggie and other icons in person during his (ongoing) tenure there. I came away from this place (and the Negro Southern League Museum, in town) with a much better understanding of and appreciation for the depth of racism in our recent history as well as the noble resistance against it. Visit Birmingham. There is so much to learn there.
While we're here on this, I've always found it somewhat interesting that the racism early Black players faced is typically confined to the story of Jackie Robinson and all he went through... but no one else. For example, I never heard much of Willie Mays, Roy Campanella, or Willie McCovey dealing with overt racism from fans or other players.
Then several years ago, I read the book "Carrying Jackie's Torch" by Steve Jacobson. It told the stories of the players who came after Robinson and the things they went through. It even included the story of how Ken Griffey, Jr. was subject to racist heckling in the minors. And after the game, the hecklers were waiting for Griffey in the parking lot.
Anyway, as far as Reggie Jackson sharing his story, I can't help but think that all of the men at that desk with him would have heard the same thing had they been there in Birmingham in 1967. They can consider themselves very lucky that they didn't have to deal with that level of racism. But what's interesting today is that there are fans who love some of these Black and Brown players because they play for their teams and do things that win ball games and championships. Yet those fans harbor racist attitudes. An Black individual who performs to my satisfaction is OK, but not Black people as a whole group.
Thanks for this comment, Bryan. I know very little about the history of baseball. I admit that it took me a second to fully acknowledge that I was listening to Reggie Jackson. It's a reminder that our popular memory of race and baseball is so intertwined with Robinson.
Even if you're not much of a fan, you may have heard that there has been a steady decline of African American players in the game. I started watching the game in the early 1980s and I heard of declining numbers and RBI (Revive Baseball in Inner Cities) by the end of that decade. Some current teams have even made history by not having any African American players on their roster (in fairness, many have Latin American players of African descent). Anyway, even if there are no African American players on the field, Black people can usually be found at ballgames as ushers and concession workers (and, of course, fans like me).
Several years ago, I went to a game at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, where the Nationals were hosting the Baltimore Orioles. I went to a bathroom and I found this written on the wall: "Fuck all the n*****rs who work here" and the drawing of a noose with an arrow and the n-word pointing to the noose. I did report it, but I don't know if much happened after that. I am completely disgusted by people who love Black athletes, while their racism goes unchecked.
A lot has been written about the decline of African American players. I don't think it's any one thing, but I think other sports like football and basketball have become so much more popular with many Black people. I've met few Blacks in my life that list baseball as their favorite sport. Personally, I think baseball should do more to market itself as a low-contact sport that doesn't come with the concussions and head injuries that football has.
I've heard it said that when it comes to football, all you need is a ball and a field. Basketball doesn't even necessarily need a hoop- a spot on a wall will do if nothing else. But baseball needs balls, bats, gloves, and catcher's equipment, and those without much money may not be able to afford all of that. I believed this argument myself at one time, but the Dominican Republic disproves this. The DR is one of the poorest countries in the world, yet the people there are obsessed with the game.
Personally, I would like to see the legacy of Jackie Robinson continue. And it's amazing to think that when he broke the color barrier in 1947, he preceded so many Civil Rights icons- Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, CORE, and SNCC. He was truly out there by himself. I honestly believe had he not succeeded, integration of the game would not be tried again until the 1960s. And if that was the case, players like Hank Aaron or Willie Mays would have been severely impacted.
I don't know if you saw the movie "42" before, but this scene is something that actually happened. It's very powerful... and intense.
Well said, Kevin. I'd add a point about Bill Greason, who threw out the first pitch. Fox was quick to mention his baseball career, his friendship with Willie Mays, his service as a Marine on Iwo Jima, and his later career as a minister. All were worthy of notice. But what never came up that I heard anyway is that Greason decided to become a minister in the first place after the Klan murdered those "four little girls" at 16th Street Baptist Church, where he was a member and later a guest preacher.
Couldn’t agree more about Reggie killing it. A few months ago I watched an autobiographical video on Prime (I think) in which Reggie pulled no punches about his treatment in general and in Birmingham in particular. In April I was traveling solo in Alabama and went to Rickwood Field during their prep for the MLB game. I met the young man, Jabreil Weir who is the groundskeeper and more. He took me around the stadium (it was closed) for a personal tour! He was so knowledgeable and so reverent about the place—“the holy grail of baseball’. He talked about meeting Reggie and other icons in person during his (ongoing) tenure there. I came away from this place (and the Negro Southern League Museum, in town) with a much better understanding of and appreciation for the depth of racism in our recent history as well as the noble resistance against it. Visit Birmingham. There is so much to learn there.
While we're here on this, I've always found it somewhat interesting that the racism early Black players faced is typically confined to the story of Jackie Robinson and all he went through... but no one else. For example, I never heard much of Willie Mays, Roy Campanella, or Willie McCovey dealing with overt racism from fans or other players.
Then several years ago, I read the book "Carrying Jackie's Torch" by Steve Jacobson. It told the stories of the players who came after Robinson and the things they went through. It even included the story of how Ken Griffey, Jr. was subject to racist heckling in the minors. And after the game, the hecklers were waiting for Griffey in the parking lot.
Anyway, as far as Reggie Jackson sharing his story, I can't help but think that all of the men at that desk with him would have heard the same thing had they been there in Birmingham in 1967. They can consider themselves very lucky that they didn't have to deal with that level of racism. But what's interesting today is that there are fans who love some of these Black and Brown players because they play for their teams and do things that win ball games and championships. Yet those fans harbor racist attitudes. An Black individual who performs to my satisfaction is OK, but not Black people as a whole group.
Thanks for this comment, Bryan. I know very little about the history of baseball. I admit that it took me a second to fully acknowledge that I was listening to Reggie Jackson. It's a reminder that our popular memory of race and baseball is so intertwined with Robinson.
Even if you're not much of a fan, you may have heard that there has been a steady decline of African American players in the game. I started watching the game in the early 1980s and I heard of declining numbers and RBI (Revive Baseball in Inner Cities) by the end of that decade. Some current teams have even made history by not having any African American players on their roster (in fairness, many have Latin American players of African descent). Anyway, even if there are no African American players on the field, Black people can usually be found at ballgames as ushers and concession workers (and, of course, fans like me).
Several years ago, I went to a game at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, where the Nationals were hosting the Baltimore Orioles. I went to a bathroom and I found this written on the wall: "Fuck all the n*****rs who work here" and the drawing of a noose with an arrow and the n-word pointing to the noose. I did report it, but I don't know if much happened after that. I am completely disgusted by people who love Black athletes, while their racism goes unchecked.
Any explanation for the declining numbers? So sorry you had to experience that at a ballpark.
Thanks, I do appreciate the sympathy.
A lot has been written about the decline of African American players. I don't think it's any one thing, but I think other sports like football and basketball have become so much more popular with many Black people. I've met few Blacks in my life that list baseball as their favorite sport. Personally, I think baseball should do more to market itself as a low-contact sport that doesn't come with the concussions and head injuries that football has.
I've heard it said that when it comes to football, all you need is a ball and a field. Basketball doesn't even necessarily need a hoop- a spot on a wall will do if nothing else. But baseball needs balls, bats, gloves, and catcher's equipment, and those without much money may not be able to afford all of that. I believed this argument myself at one time, but the Dominican Republic disproves this. The DR is one of the poorest countries in the world, yet the people there are obsessed with the game.
Personally, I would like to see the legacy of Jackie Robinson continue. And it's amazing to think that when he broke the color barrier in 1947, he preceded so many Civil Rights icons- Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, CORE, and SNCC. He was truly out there by himself. I honestly believe had he not succeeded, integration of the game would not be tried again until the 1960s. And if that was the case, players like Hank Aaron or Willie Mays would have been severely impacted.
I don't know if you saw the movie "42" before, but this scene is something that actually happened. It's very powerful... and intense.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ASt_CMKDk&t=152s
Well said, Kevin. I'd add a point about Bill Greason, who threw out the first pitch. Fox was quick to mention his baseball career, his friendship with Willie Mays, his service as a Marine on Iwo Jima, and his later career as a minister. All were worthy of notice. But what never came up that I heard anyway is that Greason decided to become a minister in the first place after the Klan murdered those "four little girls" at 16th Street Baptist Church, where he was a member and later a guest preacher.
Thanks so much for sharing this, Ken..