Triumph Through History

My research paper read it, if your into sports, African American history, history, racial breakthroughs you will love this.

Triumph Through History With Sports

By: Humberto Quintanar

            Throughout history our country has seen a lot of hatred, peril, destruction because of racism.  Although we have made breakthrough through racism it sadly is still very much in existence.  Now how does the African American race go through so much and breakthrough to make a place for themselves in history?  They have made many great accomplishments in science, medical fields, engineering, politics, etc.  To me I believe the most riveting breakthrough they have had in history that broke barrier between white and black is through sports.  How has sports helped African Americans the present and future of our history? There have been great Black athletes’ who have suffered and prevailed.  Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics a record that has yet to have been broken. He shattered the theory that the Aryan race was superior.  Ernie Davis was the first African American to win the Heisman the most prestigious college football award.  Tommie Smith and John Carlos won the bronze and the gold and stood on the stands with there fists closed showing the symbol of black power. This was during a time when black were hated they said, “We couldn’t be heard so we had to show what we wanted everyone to see.” Jackie Robinson the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and to this day the number 42 will always be remembered.  These Athletes showed that there was more to them and that they were great.  They proved that through all that hardship they went through they found away to make it out and triumph.

The Elmira Express

Born in New Salem, Pennsylvania.  He spent his early life in the Uniontown, Pennsylvania coal-belt. His parents separated shortly before his father died in an accident.  His grandparents then raised him until the age of twelve when he moved to Elmira, New York with his mother and new stepfather. Ernie showed great potential in athletics at a young age right away.  He was named Small Fry Football League’s All-Star in 1952 and 1953.  He attended Elmira Free Academy where he excelled in academics and athletics. His talent on the field was clear he was named and All-American his Junior and Senior Year.  At a time when scholarships where seldom offered to black athletes he had more than 50 offers. Davis played for the Syracuse Orangemen and wore the number 44. The same number as African American All-Star Football and Lacrosse Player Jim Brown. In his four year-season at Syracuse he won first team All-American Honors in 1959-1960. As well as leading the Orangemen to and undefeated season and National Championship in The Cotton Bowl Against the University Of Texas. He was named MVP and was given the nickname ”The Elmira Express.” Unfortunately Davis was confronted by a lot of racism in his career at Syracuse especially in the south when him and his team went to the Cotton Bowl. During a banquet following the game in 1959 he and two other African American Players were asked to accept their trophies and leave the banquet due to the segregation.  The Syracuse team wanted to leave the banquet as well to show solidarity with their teammates but they were overruled and were forced to stay. The following year after his senior season at Syracuse he was the first African-American to be awarded the Heisman trophy (the most prestigious award in all of college football). Davis was selected 1^st in the 1962 NFL Draft. He would never get to play a game of professional football.  In 1962 he was diagnosed with leukemia, he died at age 23 in 1963.  Ernie Davis proved to the nation that he was capable to overcome segregation and racism with his talent.

“Ernie Davis led Elmira (N.Y.) Free Academy to a 52-game winning streak in basketball and as a Syracuse sophomore helped the Orangemen gain their only national football championship. As a senior in 1961, he became the first African-American to receive the Heisman Trophy and was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.”

To Hell and Back

Born Michael Banks to Billy and Marlene Banks.  The third of four boys.  His mother was part of the Macedonia Church singing choir, while his dad had various jobs in construction and retail.  Banks said that him and his brothers had been brought up with morals, that he knew right from wrong.  Banks lived in South Norwalk (SoNo) a city rife with gangs, drugs etc.  Banks’ family were the average American family they did not have many problems with money and they had lived in a nice condo in SoNo.  As Mike grew up his life would change.  His parents began fighting and his father would be gone for days, which turned, into months, which eventually turned into years.  His parents eventually separated.  Mike fell into the drug life; he was distraught and upset over his father. So he turned to the streets, he would hangout late in the night get drunk and smoke pot all the time.  He became a member of the notorious gang called the “Bloods” at age 12.  He began dealing marijuana and crack.  As he grew older it began to get worse. By his freshmen year in high school Banks lost focus in school and had no ambition, but he did show some promise on the football field as a Tight End and Defensive End. During his sophomore year Banks hit rock bottom in a span of week, where he had been arrested for bringing a knife to school. Then he accidently shot a man with an air rifle just messing around.  After his few nights in a juvenile detention center, Banks returned home where he sat getting high on his porch late at night.  He began getting frustrated with his life, and went on to attempt to rob a house in a wealthy area in the outskirts of town. When he walked out of the house the cops were waiting for him. Banks would later spend four and half months in prison.

"When I was incarcerated, doing those five months, I noticed, `This is not me. I shouldn't be this way. I needed to have some type of goal," Banks says now. "It wasn't until I got introduced to lacrosse that that light actually came, that the door actually opened."

“I didn’t have the distraction of selling drugs or getting high or drunk or getting influenced by my boys.  I was just in a cell. I started to look at life in broader view.”

It was then Banks life would change.  He was quoted saying “I thought, I’m either gonna be six feet under, back in jail or paralyzed from a bullet wound.” After his sentence was over Banks moved in with his grandfather, his grandfather understood that Mike was a rebellious kid and he set ground rules immediately. Banks began to show his potential when he was re-enrolled at Brien MchMahon HS.  His grades were slowly getting better he started making Bs and Cs.  Later on Banks was confronted by his future lacrosse coach Mike Epstein.  Epstein saw the potential and prowess of Banks.  He pushed Banks to try Lacrosse.  He eventually did Banks went on to become a defensive All-American.  While attending the 205 camp in Drexel, Mike caught the eye of U of Albany assistant coach John Svec.  In turn Banks was offered a scholarship and the decision by head coach Scott Marr to this still was not a regret.  Banks also did not hesitate to speak about his history and in a way was proud that he had overcome it.  Mike is currently attending SUNY Albany where he is a sophomore and a promising future All-American Collegiate player.

The Strength of One Man

In 1936 a man by the name of Jesse Owens would impact the nation and the world forever.  Born James Cleveland Owens in 1913.  Jesse was and young African American boy in the town of Lawrence County, Alabama.  During a time when racism was prevalent and Jesse’s family was not prosperous, financially, Jesse made a name for himself.  Because his family was so poor Jesse had many jobs to help his family out.  Jesse showed promise at a young age in running.  He attended East Technical High School, where he ran track and field.  Jesse was noticed when he equaled the world record for the 100-yard dash at 9.4 seconds.  He also did the long jump at 24’91/2”.  After his national recognition Jesse attended The Ohio State University, in 1935 at the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan Jesse would break 3 world records and equal one all in the span of 45min.  His accomplishments on that day would be the ticket to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  At the time Jesse was still a black man in a predominantly white school, he would have to stay in all black hotels and he would take a different bus to the meets. This was also during WWII where Hitler reigned supreme in Germany.  The Berlin Olympics also known as the Hitler Olympics was where Jesse would put his mark in history forever.  Hitler announced that his Aryan race was going to dominate the Olympics.  Jesse had other thoughts. He went on to take the gold in the 400m, the 200m, the Long Jump and the 4x100m relay.

“Jesse was triumphant in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the broad jump. He was also a key member of the 400-meter relay team that won the gold medal. In all but one of these events Jesse set Olympic records. Jesse was the first American in the history of Olympic Track and Field to win four gold medals in a single day.”

Jesse took 4 gold in one day a record to this day that has not been broken.  Hitler was so furious that he walked out of the stadium.  Jesse proved that being black was not going to be a determining factor in the games. Jesse went back to America and faced tough times but in 1976 he was finally recognized for his feats.

“In 1976, Jesse was awarded the highest honor a civilian of the United States can receive. President Gerald R. Ford awarded him with the Medal of Freedom. Jesse overcame segregation, racism and bigotry to prove to the world that African Americans belonged in the world of athletics.”

 Jesse was a symbol to all African Americans that racism was a barrier that was slowly being broken through and with his contributions; he helped the future of African Americans.

The Defiance of Two Men

Tommie Smith and John Carlos were Olympic track runners and a symbol of pride for the African American race.  They were part of an organization called the Olympic Project for Human Rights.  It was a predominantly African American organization but was supported by White Americans.  Their goal was to stop segregation through sports.  Carlos and Smith took bronze and gold in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. During the salute on the podium Smith and Carlos would bow their heads and raised their fists with black gloves on to show black pride.  They were booed as the walked off the podium. 

“But both men insist they have no regrets about 1968. "I went up there as a dignified black man and said: 'What's going on is wrong,' Carlos says. Their protest, Smith says, "was a cry for freedom and for human rights. We had to be seen because we couldn't be heard."

Tommie Smith was later awarded the athlete of the millennium award.  Both Smith and Carlos are still recognized to this day by making strives in the protest to destroy segregation.  Their statue is erected up in the San Jose State University campus.  Tommie Smith is a public speaker and John Carlos is part of the United States Olympic Committee.  Their black power salute is a symbol that till this day is recognized by athletes all over and is shown as a way of triumph in history.

The Number 42

Jackie Robinson number 42 was the cornerstone of the breakthrough in segregation not only in sports but segregation as a whole.  A star athlete at the age of 26 he would join the Negro Leagues and play for 2 years until he would essentially end 60 year of segregation in Major League Baseball.  He was recruited by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 the first African American to ever play in the Major’s.  In his 9-year season he went on to win a world series and be a 6x all-star selection.  Jackie faced more racism then a person should ever.  Most people would have given up if they were in Jackie’s shoes.

“He was more prone to fighting back than holding back. That's what Robinson had to do when Dodgers president and general manager Branch Rickey selected him to become the first African-American to play in the majors in the 20th century.”

The number 42 worn by Jackie Robinson as retired across the board for all teams as a symbol of end of segregation in the MLB.   On April 15 all players in the MLB wear the number 42 during games to commemorate Jackie Robinson and his achievement in history.  This time in history had a huge affect on Black America as a whole.  African Americans have been punished throughout American History but through the achievements of athletes like Jackie Robinson they are being recognized and shown that they are equal to all of us.  They have shown they we are all equal.

Conclusion

“Track and field athlete Jesse Owens chose the practical approach of accommodation and patience en route to success, while baseball player Jackie Robinson opted to endure discrimination while proving his worth in the playing field. Muhammad Ali, on the other hand, showed all operative modes of the behavioral model.”

There are many ways to make an impact on the world, but these people chose sports to prove their point.  To prove the point that the African American race was no different then any other race and that segregation was wrong.  Seeing as sports are very influential in the nation the impact was even stronger.  These men were also public figures and role models for the youth not only then but even more now.

“Using the federal rates, the institute found that 52 percent of all black athletes in the 1998 cohort graduated, compared with 35 percent of those in the 1984 cohort. The graduation rate for black male athletes increased 15 percentage points, from 33 percent to 48 percent, during that time. Female black athletes' rates increased from 45 percent to 63 percent. During the same period, the graduation rate for white athletes increased from 59 percent to 66 percent, the study found.”

Youth minorities face more problems day in and day out.  Most of the time the low-income areas are populated with minorities especially African Americans.  When they are not given the same opportunity as other children they need to find a way out and many of them do it through sports.  There is always a way to get out of your troubles and sports are an option.  These men were never allowed to be heard, they were not allowed to be educated so they had to show the world what they could do.

“The history of Black athletic prowess in the US runs parallel with the overcoming of being in a white supremacy society. The first athletes were enslaved boxers who sometimes gained freedom for their skill. An overview of male Black athletes and their triumphs in “the context of the US, is given.”

African Americans are still becoming successful and they are becoming more and more recognized as the years pass. Now we have an African American President, we have African American leaders; we have African Americans doing anything the other man does.  And many of these strives in history have been by Black public speakers, politicians, teachers, doctors, etc.  But I can confidently say that Black America would not be where it is today without the athletes that have gone the extra mile and shown there talents to the nation.  Sports have played a big part in African American history.  Because sports don’t have colors, there is no white or black in sports. There is just a winner and a loser. There is only you and your opponent.  There is no limit to the power an athlete has. His or her influence is limitless.