On The Ball?

Another aspect of campus life underlines the situation of negro students and citizens. Athletics have Carved out an exclusive and almost untouchable domain of their own in American colleges. In fact, many athletic departments take precedence over any of the academic departments. Because athletics have become a commercial venture, the capable northern negro athlete can usually win a place for himself" on a team on equal terms with whites.

Off the playing field, however, the discriminatory pattern reasserts itself for the negro athlete.

One of them described to me over his studies one night the way he felt about it.

"I have asked myself many times why I ever decided to go out for sports." he said. "Ask why I should continue to contribute something that offers only short-lived mental compensation off the field. I can't get away from this question when I'm constantly reminded that my association with other players ends, socially sneaking, on the field."

He snapped his book shut as he went on. "Sure, when the teams travel I'm usually accepted in hotels, restaurants, and so on. That's because I'm a team member, not because I'm an American citizen. Do you think they'd serve me and sometimes they don't any more than you, as a negro?"