How Did The Negro League Impact Society

he first Negro league team was formed in Kansas City in 1920 (Rogosin, 4). Some of the most commonly known baseball players at this time were Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige. In the 1880’s blacks were not allowed to play on major league teams this is why they created their own league. They eventually got the rights to play in the majors when Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first black American to play in the majors. Baseball was in their culture and this was something the White supremacy could not take from them. (Rogosin, 4) During this time in America, African- Americans were segregated from whites, black people had to sit at the back of the bus, had to go to separate schools, and couldn't go into certain

This happened when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball in 1947, he broke this when he was accepted into the major leagues. African-Americans were forced to play behind a barrier if they wanted to play. The better players made their way to the top and the very best who made it to the major leagues were considered heroes. This changed the face of American sports, including baseball. If the negro leagues had never been formed, America would definitely not be where it is today. There could possibly be segregation today. The negro leagues majorly impacted America and the African-American

The teams traveled in Rusty, run-down busses, they played in abandoned ballparks. Since pay was low, they had to play at least two or more games a day. Many Restaurants would not let them in, so they would have to buy food then eat it in the cramped buses, they also had to sleep in them. When they had to use the restroom, they would have to go behind bushes or trees. The following is a statement by a former Negro league baseball player Ed Charles. “Not only couldn't we eat in the place, we couldn't use the restroom. We had to relieve ourselves in the bushes. All these things were demeaning. But we had to endure them”(Rogosin,