Last month, I
taught a course for the summer 2018 session of the Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute at the University of Kansas. Entitled, " Negro League Baseball: The Deep
Roots of African Americans in America's National Pastime", the
course examined the deep roots African Americans have in America's great game
because of the Negro League baseball era. It explained how the Negro
Leagues provided a vehicle for African Americans and dark-skinned Latino
players to showcase their baseball talents despite racial and economic
obstacles, painting a true picture of how Negro League baseball is embedded
into the fabric of 20th-century American History.
Those attending
the course were baseball fans of baby-boomer age and older. Some
had very little knowledge of the Negro League era while others were familiar
with Negro League lore about “Satchel” Paige, Josh Gibson, and “Cool Papa” Bell. However, they all saw Negro League baseball
as a neglected part of the sport’s history and wanted to know more about it. This led to course sessions full of questions
and lively discussions about not just Negro League baseball, but also the history
of race relations in America.
I want to
thank KU’s Osher Institute Director Jim Peters for including my course in this
summer’s session. Also, I thank the 17
baseball fans who took six hours from their summer activities to attend the
course.
