PIONEERS OF BLACK SPORT

by Ocania Chalk ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 1, 1973

Chalk devotes most of his energies to documenting obscure biographies and histories of athletes: Jackie Robinson is hardly mentioned, presumably because, Chalk tells us, he was preceded by a significant number of black baseball players, particularly in the last century. Chalk's account of blacks in basketball, football, and baseball plods through researched fact neglecting human warmth or sociological insight: he mentions football's caste system -- the exclusion of blacks from the ""thinking"" positions of quarterback, center, offensive guard, and middle-linebacker -- but fails to develop its history or meaning. The exception is his account of boxers, in which he explores the meaning of their personal lives in their careers as black sportsmen. But for the most part, as a record of subjects as dramatic as sports and racism, the book is surprisingly listless.

Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1973

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dodd, Mead

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1973

Categories: NONFICTION