by Perry Green
Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspaper
Former baseball player in the Negro League, James Robinson stands at the podium during his visit to the West Wing of the White House in Washington following his meeting with President Barack Obama, Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. White House says Obama invited about a dozen players to the White House to mark their contributions to American history, civil rights and athletics. The players competed for teams like the Philadelphia Stars, New York Black Yankees, Indianapolis Clowns and Boston Blues. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama hosted a special meeting with former Negro League players and representatives at the White House on Aug. 5 to honor their contributions to the nation’s history, civil rights, and professional baseball.
“Well first of all, let me just say, what an honor it is to have you all in the White House, I think everybody knows that I’m a pretty big sports fan, and I think that anybody who knows the history of the Negro Leagues knows that it was important not only because some great baseball was played, that you saw folks like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson display unbelievable athletic talent, and many of the gentlemen who are here today, but it also changed our culture,” Obama said during the meeting.
“You gave opportunities for the African American community to feel pride about their athleticism and it slowly opened the doors for opportunities in the future.”
