Baseball Quote by Jonathan Eig
““The black newspaper writers were nearly unanimous in their support for integration, and so were the owners of Negro-league teams, even though Jim Crow was essential to the success of both their industries. The few voices crying out for the protection and preservation of black baseball tended to be whites, including Calvin Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators, who wrote that white baseball had “no right to destroy” the Negro leagues. He continued: “Your two [Negro] leagues have established a splendid reputation and now have the support and respect of the colored people all over this country as well as the decent white people. . . . Anything that is worthwhile is worth fighting for...””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Best of Times: The Remarkable Life of the Negro Leagues” by Jonathan Eig, 2015
White owners supported integration but also profited from segregation, showing complex racial economics.
In simple terms: Economic interests shaped contradictory racial stances.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind seemingly progressive actions.
Themes
race
economics
history
media
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
historical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- sports management
- civil rights activism
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
segregation
integration
power structures
industry dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives contradictory support?
- How can we reconcile profit with ethics?
A Different Perspective
Economic gain can outweigh moral considerations.
