Arkansas State press., 1951-06-15
"ST RAIGHT AHEAD"
BY julius Adams

Some the Sports writers the big metropolitan daie
are revealing agave that borders CONSERVATION
obvious dominance of Negroes boxing circles or
eight championships Negroes boss five heavy Ezard Charles
middle Ray Robinson; weer Kid Gavlan; light, Jimmy Car
ter and feather Sandy Saddler Only in the ghtheavy the
bantam and the fly of which present is either popular
lucrative held by boys of color AS matter of fact
and the bantam weight titles not today considered
seriously in the United States.
In editions very prominent sports editors New
daily newspapers have had pretty cracks about
fighters and their ability In instance the reporter sought
scred approaching contest with the obvious view to Grip
ping gate dig Televsion pointing that the
match apparently made for TV exhibition rather than AS
of boxing skill between two warriors He could have
been right but so what?
The advent eevsion given sports contests
and meaning the general public Here
tofo sports have done the debating Sitting close
up boxing ring the 50yard line at football tilt and
occupying vantage baseball they have interpret
big shows for the public and have been able to
spell meanwhile shape the kind of public attitude they de-
sired Now with the millions looking close the public can de-
velop its own impressions.
Sports writer's the most honest among them like other
people times angle their stories help not help an nd
vdua performer They could and frequently did give player
the silent treatment and thus delay the recognition due him for
his outstanding achievement Negroes than any other
group have suffered from lack of honest publicity TeeVon
has done a great deal TO correct this.
Those writers who crashing their teeth and rip
ping out their hair by the roots Negro boys
thousands of fans through the urnstes box
ing show don't need worry if they famnded and free
bgory 1t hardly to be expected that the International
Boxing Club which right now Just about controls the prize g
business will discriminate against white boxers on basis of
color and when white boy with talent and box office appeal
shows up certain he will be given good spot.
This reporter very old man. but he doesn't remember
when many sports experts the daily newspapers cried out
because ALL repeat ALL the boxing contestants white
with Negro repeat NO Negro competing for title
We are not silly enough believe that Negro physically
superior white boy any than believe white boy
mentally superior to Negro boy However, at given time at
given place if has select of two the Negro might be
The physical superior the mental superior vice AT
tbn time Tho
might be reversed year from now.
Come think of IT, perhaps the worried sports writer's
not so much the specific of Negroes
getting the attention in the prize ring they in what is
really happening public attitudes Whenever Negroes have
been given or won right perform, they have given such
good account themselves destroy the myth of white
superiority This has appeared in the brain well the Drawn
department II proof read the life stories of Ralph
Bunche Percy Julian Jackie Robinson Ezzard Charles Andy
Staneld o Althea Gibson
Ii gives you a chuckle to watch the bigot squirm!