Buy or Sell: Drawing the Color Line

[JAB5239]

Ten Protests in American Sports

NYU “Bates Seven,” 1940-41

Unlike professional baseball, intercollegiate athletics outside the south were not uniformly segregated before World War II. They were, however, often subject to so-called “gentleman’s agreements,” whereby teams featuring black athletes might be asked to hold those players back when playing road games against segregated southern schools, or when playing in bowl games played in southern states. In the fall of 1940, the University of Missouri asked New York University (NYU)’s football team to hold back black starting fullback Leonard Bates from their upcoming game in Columbia, Missouri. NYU ordinarily respected such requests; Bates, in fact, had been informed of the possibility when he joined the team.

Once made public, however, the request led to a series of campus protests demanding that Bates be permitted to play. About two thousand protesters picketed the NYU administration building on October 18, wielding signs such as “Bates Must Play” and “No Missouri Compromise.” The protests didn’t end with the Missouri game – from which Bates was indeed held back – and continued on into 1941, as NYU continued to respect the “gentleman’s agreement” in other sports as well. Ultimately, seven NYU students at the forefront of the protest received three-month suspensions for circulating a petition without permission. “Gentleman’s agreements” began to fade after the war, though college athletics in the former Confederacy were among the very last institutions in the nation to desegregate in the wake of the civil rights movement.

Interesting read.

[travestyny]

Ten Protests in American Sports

NYU “Bates Seven,” 1940-41

Unlike professional baseball, intercollegiate athletics outside the south were not uniformly segregated before World War II. They were, however, often subject to so-called “gentleman’s agreements,” whereby teams featuring black athletes might be asked to hold those players back when playing road games against segregated southern schools, or when playing in bowl games played in southern states. In the fall of 1940, the University of Missouri asked New York University (NYU)’s football team to hold back black starting fullback Leonard Bates from their upcoming game in Columbia, Missouri. NYU ordinarily respected such requests; Bates, in fact, had been informed of the possibility when he joined the team.

Once made public, however, the request led to a series of campus protests demanding that Bates be permitted to play. About two thousand protesters picketed the NYU administration building on October 18, wielding signs such as “Bates Must Play” and “No Missouri Compromise.” The protests didn’t end with the Missouri game – from which Bates was indeed held back – and continued on into 1941, as NYU continued to respect the “gentleman’s agreement” in other sports as well. Ultimately, seven NYU students at the forefront of the protest received three-month suspensions for circulating a petition without permission. “Gentleman’s agreements” began to fade after the war, though college athletics in the former Confederacy were among the very last institutions in the nation to desegregate in the wake of the civil rights movement.

lmao@ labeling it "Gentlemen's agreements." Really?

Good stuff, brotha!

[Anthony342]

Very underated police drama imo. Henry Silva (that is the actor) is a great heavy in that drama.

That's the one were Carol Locatell played a ********** and used the same wig years later in Friday the 13th Part 5: A new Beginning as Ethel.

[Marchegiano]

That's the one were Carol Locatell played a ********** and used the same wig years later in Friday the 13th Part 5: A new Beginning as Ethel.

Damn, that's some good trivia that is.

People can kiss my ass, part 5, impostor Jay, was a good movie. I liked Tommy vs Jason IV, V, and VI are the best run IMO. V gets canned because dude's not Jason but Tommy is legit on edge the whole entire movie. Kinda like Dalton version of James Bond, just intense and psychological.

[Dr. Z]

I thought the same thing when I saw it. I thought...John L. of all people???


It makes me wonder what to think of Gene Tunney. He's a fighter that made it clear that he had drawn the color line (sans Wills) and would draw the color line, including on Wills, if he won the title. The only reasoning I can think that he was willing to face Wills is that he knew if he won that he could skip the line to the title. Turns out he didn't even need to fight him to skip the line. Just needed the champ to skip Wills, I suppose.

Tunney offered Wills a fight when neither was champion, Willis refused. George Godfrey, a big man with ability who happened to be African American offered Wills several fights, Wills never accepted.

I still say the king of the color line is Johnson, avoiding his 4 best challengers as champion. The offers are there, the excuses are ad nausea.

[billeau2]

That's the one were Carol Locatell played a ********** and used the same wig years later in Friday the 13th Part 5: A new Beginning as Ethel.

Was that the babe? She owes me! At east a few quarts of Seman I spilled as a teenager over her!

[Anthony342]

Damn, that's some good trivia that is.

People can kiss my ass, part 5, impostor Jay, was a good movie. I liked Tommy vs Jason IV, V, and VI are the best run IMO. V gets canned because dude's not Jason but Tommy is legit on edge the whole entire movie. Kinda like Dalton version of James Bond, just intense and psychological.

Yeah, despite being the sleaziest entry, Part 5 is fun. Some memorable kills, plus Deborah Voorhees' luscious cans. Hottest horror babe ever. I'd say Part 8 is worse, except for the boxer fatality.

[Dr. Z]

So then white champions were just afraid of losing their titles to black challengers?

Not all of them. Jeffries by my research easily beat and floored Hank Griffin, a good black fighter coming off a win over Jack Johnson. Since the fight took place after Jeffries was champion, it should be viewed as a legit title defense. Had Jeffries lost to Griffin, Griffin is the next lineal champion. History casts a blind eye here, I'm not sure why. Probably because the story of the color line sounds better by not talking about it.

Later Johnson meet Jeffries in the bar he owned, and asked for a fight. Jeffries said he would not dran files, but did offer Johnson a private fight. Johnson quickly left the bar. I call that a semi duck. Even if Johnson lost, he could bait the press leading to a real title match.

[travestyny]

Tunney offered Wills a fight when neither was champion, Willis refused. George Godfrey, a big man with ability who happened to be African American offered Wills several fights, Wills never accepted.

I still say the king of the color line is Johnson, avoiding his 4 best challengers as champion. The offers are there, the excuses are ad nausea.

Which is why you came back with so much proof regarding Johnson and to this day refuse to admit that he agreed to fight Langford 3 times. lol.

Wills was the number one contender and signed up for Dempsey when Dempsey ran to Tunney. It's no wonder he was waiting for his shot. As for Godfrey, I've already shown you that by the time that fight was really considered Godfrey was beaten by Sharkey, whom Wills fought directly after he took out Godfrey.

Just stop it. You blatantly ignore everything proven to you and run away, then come back with the same BS. It's really cowardly of you.




By the way, how about we have a friendly debate here in the history section and let's see if you can back up your claim. You'll argue Jack Johnson is the King of the color line. I'll take Jack Dempsey, and let's see who can prove their point. Will be fun. What do you say?

[Dr. Z]

Which is why you came back with so much proof regarding Johnson and to this day refuse to admit that he agreed to fight Langford 3 times. lol.

Wills was the number one contender and signed up for Dempsey when Dempsey ran to Tunney. It's no wonder he was waiting for his shot. As for Godfrey, I've already shown you that by the time that fight was really considered Godfrey was beaten by Sharkey, whom Wills fought directly after he took out Godfrey.

Just stop it. You blatantly ignore everything proven to you and run away, then come back with the same BS. It's really cowardly of you.




By the way, how about we have a friendly debate here in the history section and let's see if you can back up your claim. You'll argue Jack Johnson is the King of the color line. I'll take Jack Dempsey, and let's see who can prove their point. Will be fun. What do you say?

LOL, you ask for a findlay debate, then call me cowardly. That's rich.

I think we know who you are. You are getting political on things, quote one side of the story, and remain fixated on excuses. I call them like I see them and can say good and bad things about both fighters. I don't think you have shown that ability.

DUCKS as champion.

Johnson - Langford, Jeannette, McVey, GB Smith, McCarthy 1/2. No rematches with O'Brien either, who drew with him as champion. Johnson = 4.5 ducks. Plus he made up two stories of fixes with Willard and Ketchel.

Dempsey = Wills, Greb. 2 ducks.

IMO Johnson is the greater ducker here, and user of the " color " line which is really the ability line as the money made differs not. His own people, the fighters of the times, and the black press which covered boxing says so.

Now my turn. What are Johnson 3 greatest wins in a in boxing sense? You ignore many of my questions... this one was asked multiple times. A reply back would be nice. And after that I might have a few more for you