On 17 October 1961, five African-American basketball players of the Boston Celtics and two from the St. Louis Hawks boycotted a National Basketball Association exhibition game between the teams in Lexington, Kentucky, after facing racial discrimination in the city.[1][2]

Background

Two black players, Sam Jones and Satch Sanders, went to a coffee shop at the Phoenix Hotel on arriving in town, where a waitress refused to serve them. “I’m sorry but we don’t serve Negroes,” NBA champion Boston Celtics were told.[3] Later, Hawks player Cleo Hill was also denied service. The Celtics players informed Bill Russell of this incident, and the three along with K.C. Jones, Al Butler and Hawks players Woody Sauldsberry and Hill decided to leave Kentucky in protest.[4] Coach Red Auerbach argued the players should stay, but ultimately agreed to drive them to the airport.[5] On arriving in Boston, Russell stated to the media: "Negroes are in a fight for their rights – a fight for survival in a changing world... I am with these Negroes."[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sheridan, Chris. "NBA Players' Boycott Is Unprecedented, But 1961 And 1964 Offered Previews". Forbes.
  2. ↑ Pedersen, P.M.; Miloch, K.S.; Laucella, P.C. (2007). Strategic Sport Communication. Strategic Sport Communication. Human Kinetics. p. 318. ISBN 978-0-7360-6524-5. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Sixty years ago, the Boston Celtics staged their own walkout over racial injustice". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Brown sizzles at Celtic slur". Boston Globe. October 18, 1961. p. 41. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ↑ "NBA stars bolt game". The San Francisco Examiner. October 18, 1961. p. 57. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ↑ Goudsouzian, A.; Edwards, H. (2011). King of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution. George Gund foundation imprint in African American Studies. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26979-8. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
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