Library: African American Studies by Credo Reference: Sports

Related Topics

Race and Racism in Sports
In Encyclopedia of Race and Racism
Sport and socially defined race clearly have a relationship in modern societies. Yet the dynamics of race's impact on the institution of sport is surprisingly complex.
Black Firsts in Baseball
From Black Firsts
The first known black professional player—predating the present league organization—was pitcher John W. “Bud” Fowler [John W. Jackson] (1858?-?).
Black Firsts in Basketball
From Black Firsts
The Rens, named after the team's home court, the Renaissance Casino in New York, was the first black professional basketball team.
Black Firsts in Football
From Black Firsts
Frederick Douglas “Fritz” Pollard Sr. (1890–1986), a diminutive back of Brown University, became the first black to play in the Rose Bowl.
Black Firsts in Tennis
From Black Firsts
The first black woman to win seven consecutive titles in the American Tennis Association was Ora Washington (1898–1971).
Black Firsts in the Olympics
From Black Firsts
John Baxter “Doc” Taylor Jr. (1882–1908), became the first black winner of a gold medal in the Olympics.
Black Firsts in Track and Field
In Black Firsts
1912 • The first black to hold the record for the 100-yard dash was Howard Porter Drew (1890-1957), of Lexington, Virginia. He was called the world's fastest human and won the National Amateur Athletic Union championship on September 12.
Negro Baseball Leagues
In Freedom Facts and Firsts: 400 Years of the African American Civil Rights Experience
Professional Negro baseball leagues were organized to showcase the talents of African American players during segregation; they became a successful business enterprise, generating millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs for other blacks besides players, coaches, managers, and team owners.

Athletes

Hank Aaron (1934- ): Topic Page
Baseball player and executive, born in Mobile, Alabama, USA.
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016): Topic Page
Boxer, born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Arthur Ashe (1943-1993): Topic Page
US tennis player and coach. He won the US national men's singles title at Forest Hills and the first US Open in 1968.
Barry Bonds (1964- ): Topic Page
American baseball player, b. Riverside, Calif.
Michael Jordan (1963- ): Topic Page
US basketball player. Named by the US magazine Sports Illustrated as the ‘Best Basketball Player of the 20th Century’ (1999).
Carl Lewis (1961 - ): Topic Page
American athlete. Winner of nine Olympic gold medals, including four in the long jump, he duplicated in the 1984 Olympics Jesse Owens's feat of winning the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the long jump, and the four-by-100-meter relay.
Jackie Robinson (1919-1972): Topic Page
(Jack Roosevelt Robinson), American baseball player, the first African-American player in the modern major leagues.
O. J. Simpson (1947- ): Topic Page
US American football player, film and television actor, and sports commentator.
Tiger Woods (1976- ): Topic Page
US golfer. In 1994 he became the youngest player, at the age of 18, to win the US Amateur Championship.
Mike Tyson (1966 - ): Topic Page
U.S. boxer. World heavyweight champion (1986-90, and 1996): jailed for rape (1992-95); banned from professional boxing in 1997 after biting off part of his opponent's ear.
Biographies of African Americans in Sports
In African American Almanac
Hank Aaron (1934–)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1947–)
Muhammad Ali (1942–)

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