Literature, Arts, & Sports

Black Art - The Black Arts Movement was a loose network of Black Nationalist African American artists and intellectuals during the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s.  It fundamentally changed American attitudes both toward the function and meaning of literature.  The Black Arts Movement perhaps stands as the single most controversial moment in the history of African-American literature.  

Curt Flood Case: Free Agency of Athletes – The Curt Flood case is all about the right to free agency.  How did Curt Flood’s case change the relationship between labor and management?  

Harlem Renaissance - From 1920 until about 1930 an unprecedented outburst of creative activity among African-Americans occurred in all fields of art. Beginning as a series of literary discussions in the lower Manhattan (Greenwich Village) and upper Manhattan (Harlem) sections of New York City, this African-American cultural movement became known as "The New Negro Movement" and later as the Harlem Renaissance.

Jackie Robinson – Jackie Robinson was one of the leaders in breaking the color barrier in the baseball’s major league.  His fight for his right to play a professional sport is an important part of our nation’s history.  Furthermore, Jackie Robinson also fought alongside other famous blacks during the fight for Civil Rights. 

Jacob Riis - Jacob Riis revealed poor living conditions and health problems of the poor in tenement housing in the urban areas through photographs.  Through his work, the rights of tenants were examined.   His books helped the movement to reform housing.   What responsibilities go along with  artistic expression?  

Muhammad Ali - Ali won the Olympic Gold Medal for boxing in 1960 in Rome months after his 18th birthday, but was far more than just a boxer.  Although Cassius returned home to a parade, Louisville was still, in 1960 part of the segregated South. Even with a medal around his neck, Cassius was refused service at a local restaurant. Malcolm X and young Cassius Clay (Ali's birth name) met and bonded on a deep level. Malcolm brought Cassius into the Nation of Islam in 1967, as the Vietnam War was escalating, Ali was called up for induction into the Armed Services. Ali refused induction on the grounds of religious beliefs. He was, in fact, a practicing Muslim minister. This refusal led to the now-famous Ali quote, "I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong…"

Owens, James Cleveland “Jesse” – James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an extremely popular American athlete and civic leader. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals; one each in the 100 meter dash, the 200 meter dash, the long jump, and for being part of the 4x100 meter relay team.

Suppression of the Movie “Salt of the Earth” – “Salt of the Earth” was a movie about labor rights in New Mexico?  During Joe McCarthy’s communist scare, the movie was suppressed.  Local UW-Marathon County professor Jim Lorence investigated this important topic.