The Ongoing Erasure of Championship Teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in American Sports History
The achievements of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their athletes are often overlooked and forgotten in the annals of American sports history. This article explores the reasons behind this phenomenon, highlighting examples of intentional exclusion and the enduring impact of historical and cultural biases.
Historical Context and Institutional Racism
The ongoing effect of centuries of enslavement, racism, and Jim Crow laws has led to a significant under-recognition of the accomplishments of African American institutions and individuals. Today, the cultural value placed on Black achievements is often disregarded in favor of acknowledging the successes of predominantly white institutions and individuals. This deeply ingrained bias is evident in many aspects of sports history.
Basketball Legacy: Remembering Pearl Moore
One striking example of this erasure is the case of Pearl Moore, a legendary basketball player from Franklin Pierce College (now Francis Marion University) in Florence, South Carolina. Moore set a collegiate record with 4,061 points from 1975 to 1979, a remarkable achievement that belies her longstanding absence from mainstream sports history.
Despite this impressive record, Pearl Moore's legacy is notably absent from the conversation about top collegiate basketball players. Recent star Clark from Iowa, who scored 3,685 points, has been praised for her accomplishments, yet she has yet to surpass Moore's record. This oversight is not merely accidental; it reflects a cultural bias that strives to marginalize the contributions of African American athletes and institutions.
Coaching Excellence: Eddie Robinson's Legacy
Another instance of overlooked achievement in American sports history is the case of Eddie Robinson, the legendary head coach at Grambling State University. Robinson held an impressive coaching record of 408 wins, including 45 winning seasons, 17 Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, and 9 black college football national championships. Yet, in the 1980s, the record held by a coach from University of Alabama (323 wins) was often cited as the gold standard, despite Robinson's far superior record. This intentional comparison aims to support the notion that white culture is superior to Black culture in every aspect.
Tenessee AI's Pioneering Triumph
A prime example of HBCU achievements frequently overlooked is the Tennessee AI (now Tennessee State University) teams of 1957, 1958, and 1959. These teams won three consecutive white national championships, an unprecedented feat for a historically Black institution. Even though nine players from these championship teams went on to play professional basketball, their accomplishments quickly receded in the Jim Crow South.
Mr. Barnett, a former shooting guard from the teams, has spent a decade advocating for the inclusion of Tennessee AI into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His efforts have culminated in a memorable induction, which was the subject of a recent PBS documentary titled "The Dream Whisperer." This recognition highlights the ongoing fight to rectify and correct historical erasures.
The Impact of Failing to Address Institutional Racism
The underlining problem of institutional racism must be addressed if we hope to see a change in the under-recognition of HBCU sports champions, coaches, and their historical achievements. Until these fundamental issues are addressed, the marginalization of HBCU sports history will continue to be a significant problem in American sports.
Conclusion
The erasure of the achievements of HBCUs and their athletes in sports history is a poignant example of the enduring impact of historical and cultural biases. Through examples like Pearl Moore, Eddie Robinson, and the Tennessee AI teams, it is clear that the acknowledgment and celebration of these achievements are essential for a more equitable and accurate understanding of American sports history.