The Legacy of Black Athletes in Boston
The conference on Race, Sports, and Politics: Confronting Injustice in the History of Boston opened with remarks from Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins ’81, who offered both historical context and present-day reflections on Boston’s criminal legal system, particularly highlighting the injustice of denying voting rights to individuals who have already served their sentences. Following the opening remarks was a panel discussion on the integration of collegiate football that explored the “gentleman’s agreement”—an unwritten pact among schools in the American South that barred visiting Black athletes from participating in games on their campuses.
The emotional heart of the conference came from family members of pioneering Black student-athletes at Ď㽶Đă and throughout Boston. Lou Montgomery’s daughter shared moving stories of her father, describing him as a selfless team player who, due to segregation laws and the gentleman’s agreement, was forced to sit out the 1940 Cotton Bowl and
1941 Sugar Bowl while his teammates took the field. Wendy Johnson, granddaughter of Bucky Lew—the first Black professional basketball player in the New England Basketball League—described her grandfather as a modest, quiet man who rarely spoke of his accomplishments, including setting a game record with 14 points.
David Joyner reflected on the legacy of his brother, Russ Joyner ’83, who captained Ď㽶Đă’s football team in the 1982 Tangerine Bowl—the university’s first bowl appearance since 1941. Willie A. Wilson Jr. ’74, curator of the Brockton Historical Society-Marvin Hagler statue, also contributed his perspective to the conversation.
The conference concluded with remarks from alumnus Troy Bower ’87, who emphasized the importance of mentorship in athletics, followed by Josh Beekman ’06 and Kenny Francis from Ď㽶Đă’s Athletics Department, who highlighted ongoing social justice initiatives at the university. Kenny Francis closed the session with a powerful reminder that our morals, values, and principles must always be rooted in love.
Winston Center Staff
Presented with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Committee, Athletics Department & Office of Student-Athlete Academic Services, Brockton Historical Society, and Brockton Area Branch NAACP