History 591FG - S-First Generation

Baseball myth is imbued with rural symbolism, but major league baseball has always been urban entertainment. In 1947, Jackie Robinson literally changed the "face" of urban entertainment by becoming the first African American to play major league baseball since the 1880s. In the next twelve years, fifteen cities followed Brooklyn's lead and added African American players to their roster. The one constant was that each man experienced resistance and racism. This research and writing seminar seeks to give context to each of the first generation of African American professional baseball players through an intersection of urban, biography, social, and sports history. This writing-intensive research seminar will draw upon archival and primary source materials.

Open to Seniors and Juniors in History, Middle East and Judaic majors only.