Getting Open
The Unknown Story of Bill Garrett and the Integration of College Basketball
Published on 17. September 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-253-22046-2 (ISBN)
Description
In 1947, the same year Jackie Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball, Bill Garrett integrated college basketball. By joining the basketball program at Indiana University, he broke the gentleman's agreement that had barred black players from the Big Ten, college basketball's most important conference. While enduring taunts from opponents and pervasive segregation at home and on the road, Garrett became the best player Indiana had ever had, an all-American, and in 1951, the third African American drafted in the NBA. Within a year of his graduation from IU, there were six African American basketball players on Big Ten teams. Soon tens, then hundreds, and finally thousands walked through the door Garrett had opened.
Reviews / Votes
"A story of endurance, perseverance, and achievement on a par with any in the history of desegregation." -Washington Times "A lively story, full of fascinating figures-heroes and villains-who changed history." -Chicago Tribune "A striking and honest portrait of a man overcoming racism in a place that barely acknowledged its existence." -Publishers Weekly "One of the most engaging sports stories I have ever read." -Indianapolis Monthly "Remember the Titans judiciously spliced with Hoosiers." -Washington Post "Getting Open is an excellent read for sports fans, history buffs or anyone interested in biographies. And, it should be required reading for every young high school athlete on the way to college and every college athlete on the way to the pros-especially African American athletes. With all the scandals plaguing professional sports today, Bill Garrett's story might inspire a lot of folks-athletes and fans alike-to bring some dignity back to the games." -Frost Illustrated "... a spell binding piece of work that reads like a cross between a good mystery and a top notch golden age sports radio broadcast." -Frost Illustrated, Oct. 1 2008 "The authors' style is readable and engaging, especially in the chapters on the march to the state title. It reads much like a real-life 'Hoosiers.'" -Franklin Daily Journal, November 2, 2008 "Although this is a thoroughly researched study, the story is also gripping and well written so it reads like a novel." -Journal of African American History, Vol. 94, No. 1 (Fall 2009)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Bloomington, IN
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
34 b&w photos
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
406 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-253-22046-2 (9780253220462)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Tom Graham grew up in Bill Garrett's hometown and played basketball on the freshman team at Indiana University, before graduating from Harvard Law School. He practiced international law in Geneva, Switzerland, and Washington, D.C. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Rachel Graham Cody is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Harvard Divinity School, where her focus was African American studies. She lives in Portland, Oregon.
Content
Map of Indiana Prologue Part One 1. October 15, 1943 2. The Way Things Are 3. Frank's Office 4. The Black Bears 5. January 3, 1947 6. Hoosier Hysteria 7. Golden Again 8. March 22, 1947 Part Two 9. The Sheriff 10. "Comin' Out a Man" 11. Gentlemen's Agreement 12. The Chief and the President 13. Down t'IU 14. The Hurryin' Hoosiers 15. Coming Home 16. A Gym Needs a Name Postscript Eight Who Came Before Acknowledgments Notes Sources Index