1961 Celtics boycott

In October 1961, three African-American basketball players of the Boston Celtics boycotted a National Basketball Association exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky against the St. Louis Hawks, after facing racial discrimination in the city.[1][2]

Background

Two black players, Sam Jones and Satch Sanders went to a coffee shop on arriving in town, where a waitress refused to serve them. They informed player Bill Russell of this incident, and the three decided to leave Kentucky and return to Boston in protest. Coach Red Auerbach argued the three should stay, but ultimately agreed to drive them to the airport. On arriving in Boston, Russell stated to the media: "Negroes are in a fight for their rights – a fight for survival in a changing world... I am with these Negroes."[3]

See also

References
  1. Sheridan, Chris. "NBA Players' Boycott Is Unprecedented, But 1961 And 1964 Offered Previews". Forbes.
  2. Pedersen, P.M.; Miloch, K.S.; Laucella, P.C. (2007). Strategic Sport Communication. Strategic Sport Communication. Human Kinetics. p. 318. ISBN 978-0-7360-6524-5. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  3. Goudsouzian, A.; Edwards, H. (2011). King of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution. George Gund foundation imprint in African American Studies. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26979-8. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
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