Out of the Shadows: A Biographical History of African American Athletes

PREFACE

P R E F A C E This book chronicles the lives of twenty prominent African American athletes who competed either behind segregated walls or in predominantly white organized sport or, in some cases, at both levels of sport. Written by noted academicians with long lists of major publications on various aspects of sport, each biography describes the respective athletes’ various sporting successes and disappointments as well as struggles encountered in a society marred by deep-seated stereotypes and history of racial discrimination. Taken as a whole, the biographies are intended to furnish perspectives on the changing status of African American athletes over the past two centuries and how those changes mirrored the transformation of sport, American society, and civil rights legislation. The biographies are intended, moreover, to provide a better understanding of such processes as assimilation, the interconnection between sport and race, and the simultaneous quest to establish individual identities and group loyalty. The athletes I have chosen for this volume represent a variety of sports, different personalities, and diverse approaches to civil rights and the institution of sport. Some of them came from very humble backgrounds while others were more privileged, some of them were reticent about speaking out on racial issues while others were more vocal about protesting discriminatory practices, and some were not always popular among Americans while others were admired by many in both the black and white communities. All of them, however, realized great success as athletes, garnering prestigious honors and awards and numerous individual and team championships. These athletes were considered some of the best, if not the best, at their particular sport, during the time in which they competed and at whatever level of participation they found themselves. Though several of the athletes in this volume have been written about in great detail elsewhere, I have elected to include them since any one volume work on the experiences of African Americans in sport would be incomplete without them. Those individuals are Jack Johnson, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, and Muhammad Ali. In addition to 1WIGGINS_pages_i-132.qxd 9/12/06 11:46 AM Page xi these individuals, I include athletes from the late nineteenth century who realized enormous success in sport, but who are largely unknown except to specialists in sport history. Those individuals are Jimmy Winkfield, Marshall “Major” Taylor, and William Henry Lewis. I also include athletes who spent much of their careers behind segregated walls and whose lives have largely been told either through general histories or children’s literature rather than through specialized scholarly studies. Those individuals are Ora Washington, Satchel Paige, Alice Coachman, Althea Gibson, and Wilma Rudolph. I also include athletes, in addition to Muhammad Ali, who enjoyed outstanding careers in sport and were part of the civil rights struggle of the tumultuous decade of the 1960s and early 1970s. Those individuals are Bill Russell, Jim Brown, and Arthur Ashe. Lastly, I include noted contemporary athletes who have become intertwined with the new celebrity age and marketing-driven popular culture. Those individuals are Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Venus and Serena Williams. In essence, the choices of biographies reflect my desire to introduce readers to relatively little known yet extremely gifted athletes while at once providing insights into the lives of athletes who have seemingly always been part of our collective historical memory. I owe a debt of gratitude to a number of people who assisted me in the completion of this project. Patrick Miller, my friend and colleague from Northeastern Illinois University who collaborated with me on two previous works dealing with African American participation in sport, offered sage advice and cogent comments that improved the overall quality of this book. Lisa Reeves of George Mason University was indispensable in the completion of this book, spending an enormous amount of time making editorial changes, formatting materials, and typing all introductions. Ellen Rodgers took time away from her own scholarly endeavors and her multitude of other responsibilities at George Mason University to assist with the completion of this project. Larry Malley, as he has done with a countless number of historical studies during his long and distinguished career in publishing, guided me through this project with much care and great insight. Finally, I am indebted, as always, to my wife, Brenda, and two boys, Jordan and Spencer, for their constant support, encouragement, and patience. The three provide perspective on what is important and most meaningful. xii PREFACE 1WIGGINS_pages_i-132.qxd 9/12/06 11:46 AM...