African American
Athletes
SUMMARY

This book traces the history of
African Americans in sports in the United
States. Before 1945, African Americans
were not allowed to play in most professional
sports. This book looks at individual athletes
who were able to break through the race barrier and set an example for others who follow.
Some of the athletes profiled include Satchel
Paige, Willie O’Ree, Jackie Robinson, Jesse
Owens, Hank Aaron, and Tiger Woods.

LESSON VOCABULARY

adversity
discrimination
integrated
prohibited

amateur
inferior
prejudiced
taunts

INTRODUCE THE BOOK
INTRODUCE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR

Discuss with
students the title and the author of African


Have students set a purpose for
reading African American Athletes. Students’
interest in sports can help guide this purpose.
As students read, suggest they take notes
that might provide answers to any questions
they could have about the subject.

STRATEGY SUPPORT: ASK QUESTIONS

Revisit how
asking questions before and during reading
can help keep the reader engaged with the
information in the text. Then discuss how
asking questions after reading can also help
them check comprehension and solidify what
they’ve learned. For example: What did I learn
about African American athletes that I didn’t
know before?

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
PAGE 4

Satchel Paige had names for some of
his pitches. Name a few. (bee ball, trouble ball,
Long Tom)
PAGE 6

Who was the first African American to
play professional basketball? (Earl Lloyd)

1. Football, 1946; baseball, 1947; basketball,
1950; hockey, 1958
2. Responses will vary.
3. Possible response: Professional hockey was
not integrated until the late 1950s.
4. Possible response: The photograph shows
that baseball had been integrated.
EXTEND UNDERSTANDING

Discuss with students
how sections in the book can help organize
complicated material. Go over the sections
with students and discuss what material is
in each and why. Ask students how they can
tell what each section is going to be about.
Guide them to see that the next section is a
progression.

RESPONSE OPTIONS
WRITING

Ask students to write a brief
paragraph expressing their feelings about
discrimination and prejudice.

SOCIAL STUDIES
CONNECTION
Have students take one
of the sports figures in
this book and do further

class.
ASK QUESTIONS Remind students that
asking their own questions before, during,
and after they read will help them actively
engage with the material. It will also help
them reflect on what they read, identify the
author’s purpose, and separate statements
of fact from statements of opinion. Offer as
examples such questions as How did the
author organize the information? What is the
author trying to say here? Could I turn this
information into a story or movie?

ADDITIONAL SKILL INSTRUCTION

FACT AND OPINION Remind students that a
statement of fact is a statement that can
be proven true or false, and a statement of
opinion is someone’s judgment. A statement
of opinion cannot be proved true or false.
To give students practice, give them several
sentences, some of which are fact and
some opinion, and have students mark them
as such.

African American Athletes

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25

1958

Jesse Owens, track and field

1947

Earl Lloyd, basketball

1948

Willie O’Ree, hockey

1936

Satchel Paige, baseball

© Pearson Education 5

Directions Match each year to the man who started playing his sport then.

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African American Athletes

Name


5. inferior

when a public place or group has been opened to all races.

6. integrated

someone who plays something for pleasure, instead of for money
or as a profession.

7. prejudiced

having an unreasonable dislike for someone or something

8. prohibited

act of showing an unfair difference in treatment

Directions Select four vocabulary words and use each in a sentence.
9.

© Pearson Education 5

10.

11.

12.

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