The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-06-06
RACIAL BIAS
FLOUR|SHES IN
THE Big TEN
BY RUSS J. CowANS

1
down satisfaction any success OBJ
tanned by those leading the fight
to break racial barriers in the two
Major leagues, there are some roots
Of discrimination in other fields of
sports competition which need up
roofing.
For instance, there's a gentle
mans agreement among basketball
coaches in the Big Ten TO bar Negro
players. Regardless of the ability
Of a Negro player. he's not given
d chance to play with any Of the
Big Ten teams
Lett Was Barred
For instance, Franklin Lett en-
rolled at the University of Michi-
! gan in the 1905 and Immediately
became a candidate for berth on
the varsity basketball team. Lett
had made a fine record in high
school and had come 10 Ann .Arbor
on the recommendation OF the Bat
tie Creek alumni. BNt he was given
the cold shoulder by the coaches.
ing the remarkable achievements
of Negro athletes who have worn
the colors of the University OF
Michigan, carrying those colors to
national and international. fame.
DeHart Hubbard, Eddie Tolan,
Booker Brooks, Willis Ward and
Bill Watson, while representing
Michigan, have written their names
indelibly on the athletic rolls OF
nonor.
Archie Harris and Fitzhugh
Lyons carried the fame Of the
University of Indiana to exalted
heights, but Indiana has never CIV
en- colored basketball player
chance.
Duke Slater. ozzie Simmons, Ed
Harris. Ohio Roberts, and Lee
Farmer have won undying fame
as representatives Of the University |
Of Iowa on the football field and
IN track and field competition, but
Iowa has banned basketball players |
of color. Sam Peyton, Bernie JEFF
ferson, and Jimmy Smith, by their
exploits on the gridiron. carved |
deep and lasting fame for North
western. but they could not smash
the gates of racial prejudice against |
colored basketball players.
Efforts In Vain
Ed Smith was a great hurdler
at the University OF Wisconsin and
Binga DESMOND ranks as one of
the greatest athletes ever to wear
the Maroon of the University of
Chicago, but both institutions are
stepped in racial prejudice against
colored basketball players.
So it is in every school in the
Big Ten. And similar conditions
are prevalent at Notre Dame, the
great Catholic institution in South
Bend, Ind. Al Notre Dame there's
a barrier against the Negro in all
fields of activity.
Western Michigan college. where
Bill Loving and Eddie Gaines once
flourished as outstanding track and
field competitors, will not permit
Horace Coleman to play on the
basketball team, although Coleman
is one OF the best athletes enrolled
at the school. The former Ham
tramck high star can run wild on
the football field, or win points as
a Splinter, but he's not given the
chance TO display his ability on the
basketball court. And Horace is
aatopnotch court performer.
And right here in our own back
yard we have a serious problem
of racial discrimination in sports.
The Detroit Baseball Federation.
an organization that makes use of
cty-owned parks to play all games,
Will not let down the racial bars
and admit colored team. All eff
forts to adjust this situation have
been frowned upon by Shorty
Moran. president OF the league.
So. while a fight is heing waged
to break the barriers in the major
leagues, similar action should be
started against racial bias in the
Big Ten, ar Notre Dame and West
ern MichigR. college, and in the
Detroit Paseball Polarization