Black Diamond - Black Gold

The Danville Lady Tomahawks was one of the first all-African American women's fastpitch softball teams, founded in the late 1960s in Danville, Illinois. The founder of this organization was Wilbur Adkisson, a professional baseball player, who played in the Negro Baseball League out of Nashville, Tennessee. In 1976, these ladies went from fastpitch to slow pitch and quickly became a traveling team in Illinois, Indiana, and even Tennessee. The Danville Lady Tomahawks were a strong force to be reckoned with, thriving as a team until the late 1990s. Over the course of all those years, Adkisson gave young African American women the opportunity to become involved in sports in their community for the first time in their lives. Black Diamond - Black Gold examines the early struggles of being an all-African American women's softball team during an era when racism was still rampant. It highlights the women's fortitude, resilience, and ability to adapt and play in any given situation. It showcases their strong commitment to the game, their team, and their community, where they instilled pride and joy. This book shows what dedication and devotion look like. It explores the strong bond that was developed between these young ladies, encouraged with loving guidance and leadership from Wilbur Adkisson.