MCC-Maple Woods Storytelling Celebration 2010 - Bobby Norfolk

"Before the Lights Go Out"

The Story of James "Cool Papa" Bell, Satchel Paige, and the Negro Baseball Leagues.

Travel back in history to a time when, segregated by Jim Crow laws, America's "National Pastime" wore two faces, the whites-only Major Leagues and the upstart Negro Baseball Leagues. Nonetheless, many white Americans were astonished by the dynamic skills of black ball players!

Bobby's journey through the heyday of the Negro Baseball Leagues brings to life many of its most talented players including St. Louis' own James "Cool Papa" Bell and the Kansas City Monarch's Satchel Paige. In this powerful and educational performance, he brings to life an important but sometimes forgotten era in baseball history, telling passionate, humorous, and often unbelievable stories of exploits both on and off the field. Bobby invites his audience to experience the harsh discrimination, adversity, and eventual Hall of Fame triumph for some of these players.

Historical slides and period music enhance this emotional performance, illustrating the clash of race, sports and culture.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• African-American culture
• baseball