From the early 20th century through the late 1940s, African American and Afro-Latinx baseball players were barred from playing in Major League Baseball due to racial segregation. In response, Black entrepreneurs and athletes established the Negro Leagues. The Negro Leagues refer to several professional baseball leagues formed by African American and Afro-Latinx players and entrepreneurs in response to segregation in Major League Baseball. These leagues were home to legendary players like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell, and became cultural hubs in Black communities. Black newspapers, such as the Chicago Defender and the Pittsburgh Courier, helped elevate players’ voices and increase their coverage. The Negro Leagues were not just athletic institutions—they were sites of Black pride, economic independence, and resistance. They operated alongside broader movements like the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance, contributing to the cultural and political foundation of the Civil Rights Movement. Jackie Robinson, who played in the Negro Leagues, broke the MLB color barrier in 1947, an event deeply tied to the legacy of the Negro Leagues. In 2020, Major League Baseball said the Negro Leagues were just as important as the other major leagues. They added the players’ records to MLB history to honor their talent and make things more fair.
New Jersey Student Learning Standards:
- 6.1.5.HistoryCC.1: Analyze key historical events from different regions of the world to explain how they shaped communities.
- 6.1.5.CivicsDP.1: Describe the role of people, events, and symbols in promoting democratic principles.
- 6.1.5.HistoryUP.3: Use primary and secondary sources to compare different perspectives on a historical event.
Curriculum
- 4 Sections
- 5 Lessons
- 10 Weeks
