On February 20th, the Black College Football Hall of Fame with open its doors with the enshrinement of its first induction class. The BCFHoF, located in Atlanta, was founded in 2009 to celebrate the contributions of players and coaches at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to the game of football. The HBCU’s inaugural class includes:
* Walter Payton, running back (Jackson State, 1971-74);
* Jerry Rice, wide receiver (Mississippi Valley State, 1981-84);
* Deacon Jones (SC State & Mississippi Valley State, 1958 - 60)
* Eddie Robinson, head coach (Grambling State 1941-97)
* Buck Buchanan, a defensive end for Grambling State (1959-1963);
* Willie Galimore, a running back for Florida A&M (1953-1956);
* Willie Lanier, a linebacker for Morgan State (1963-1967);
* Ben Stevenson, a running back for Tuskegee (1923-1930);
* Paul Younger, a running back-defensive back for Grambling State (1945-1948);
* Alonzo Gaither, Florida A&M's head coach from 1945 to 1969;
* Bill Nunn, Jr., former NFL scout and journalist for the Pittsburgh Courier.
Candidates for induction, according to the BCFHoF website, must have played at least two seasons for an HBCU.
Now I’ll admit that as a white middle-class male from a (historically) liberal state, I probably lack a bit of perspective here. However, isn’t the very idea of an organization dedicated solely to recognizing the accomplishments of one race (deserving as they may be of celebration) a step back in the fight for racial harmony?
Institutions that have become “Historically Black Colleges and Universities” were established in the 60s to serve the black community in an effort to overcome the discriminatory admissions practices common in higher education at the time. The students and athletes who attended and thrived at these schools have paved the way for black students and athletes (and even student-athletes!) throughout American academia. However, while we all strive to look ahead to a future (and in many ways a present) without racial boundaries, doesn’t the establishment of a completely separate HOF for black college football players – right down the street from the recently-relocated College Football Hall of Fame (for All Players) – literally and figuratively put up more walls in the racial divide? Doesn’t it also imply that not only will we be celebrating the HBCU players’ accomplishments in the past, but also look ahead to a future where there is still a need for HBCUs?
by Jeff Cusson
http://jeffcusson.gather.com/
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Tuesday, January 19th 2010 at 4:36PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
