Earl Lloyd First African-American Player in NBA
Earl Lloyd played with the Washington Capitols on this day, becoming the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association.
Famously, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play in the baseball major leagues when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1957. Larry Doby became the first African-American to play in the American League, playing for the Cleveland Indians three months later on July 5, 1947.
Kenny Washington was the first African-American to play in the National Football League, signing with the Los Angeles Rams on Mary 21, 1946.
See Earl Lloyd on Oprah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNOIGFTuXaQ
Learn more about Earl Lloyd: http://www.nba.com/sixers/community/earl_lloyd_050208.html
And more: http://www.visionaryproject.org/lloydearl/
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture here