Speaker on African American Sports History
A lecture related to little-known African American sports history will lead off a series of events celebrating African American History Month at the聽Central Library. On Wed., Feb. 7, historian Scott Ellsworth will discuss his research uncovering a secret basketball game played between segregated teams during World War II. Ellsworth鈥檚 talk will begin at 4:10 p.m. in the Community Room.
Ellsworth is the author of聽The Secret Game: A Wartime Story of Courage, Change, and Basketball鈥檚 Lost Triumph. He teaches history at the University of Michigan and has written extensively on racial issues in American life in聽The New York Times聽补苍诲听Smithsonian Magazine, among other publications. One of his areas of interest is teaching students oral history techniques. After Ellsworth鈥檚 talk, there will be a question-and-answer session with聽Andrew Maraniss, author of聽Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South, followed by a reception.聽 This event is sponsored by the Central Library and the Wild Bunch.聽
For Questions, please contact Mary Anne Caton Sr. Consultant for Educational and Interpretive Programs at mary.a.caton@vanderbilt.edu.