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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The National Pastime in Black and White: The Negro Baseball Leagues, 1867–1955 Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball—the unwritten rule made in the 1890s barring African Americans from playing in the major leagues—when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Yet until recently, even avid fans of the game knew little or nothing about the Negro leagues, a rich culture of black baseball preceding the Robinson era by more than a half-century. The National Pastime in Black and White: The Negro Baseball Leagues, 1867–1955, opening [opening date] at [your institution], tells the fascinating story of the Negro leagues during segregation. The exhibition's 60 photographs and selection of rare artifacts acquaint visitors with great athletes who were good enough—but not white enough—to play in the major leagues. These athletes didn't wait for the door to “organized” baseball to open; they formed their own teams and leagues and played the game with as much enthusiasm as their white counterparts. The Negro leagues provided a venue for black ballplayers (and heroes for black fans) prior to the desegregation of major league baseball, which preceded all the major civil rights landmarks of the 1950s and 1960s. This and other social aspects of the Negro leagues are examined, such as the roles of teams and players in their communities, the importance of weekly black newspapers, and barnstorming. [In this paragraph, provide details about any activities you plan in conjunction with the exhibition. Also include information about museum/gallery hours, admission costs, and a phone number to call for additional information.] The National Pastime in Black and White is curated by David Conrads, an independent curator in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. The exhibition is organized and toured by ExhibitsUSA. The purpose of ExhibitsUSA is to create access to an array of arts and humanities exhibitions, nurture the development and understanding of diverse art forms and cultures, and encourage the expanding depth and breadth of cultural life in local communities. ExhibitsUSA is a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance, a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1972. *Please see www.exhibitsusa.org for the most current crediting information.
©2002 Mid-America Arts Alliance. All Rights Reserved |