African Americans in Sports

Early records have shown that African Americans were involved in sports whenever given the opportunity to participate. On the other hand, American sports are filled with records of African American athletes capable of participating in the broad sports arena but not given the chance due to their race. Therefore, as sports grew into an American popular pastime, it also grew along on separate fields with race as a dividing line. Most sporting events were separated by race up until the 1940’s. For the few African Americans who were ready and able to cross that line, they had to pay a heavy price. They became the prime symbol of their race in that individual sport. They were, at times, teased, harassed, and belittled while demonstrating their skills in the sports arena. African American sports figures who paved the way for the elimination of race as a qualification for those entering the broader American Sports Arena. Today we can all appreciate these competitors as they raise our spirits in an arena which was once not open to them as African Americans

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