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Oscar Charleston and U.S. - Numbers, Names, Dates and Places - Page 4

© Thomas James Martin

In 1954 the Supreme Court issued a ruling in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. It decided unanimously that segregation was unconstitutional, overthrowing the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that had set the "separate but equal' precedent.

On October 6 with winds approaching speeds of 115 miles per hour, Hurricane Hazel hits the coast of North Carolina, and eventually sweeps North, ravaging Pennsylvania and the Eastern seaboard.

On October 6, 1954, the National Executive Committee of the American Legion gives its final approval to a resolution initiated by the Knights of Columbus to add the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. Eventually Congress approves the addition of the words.

1976
Oscar Charleston is elected to Hall of Fame by Committee on Negro Leagues. His plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame reads:

Oscar McKinley Charleston Negro Leagues 1915 - 1944 Rated among the all time greats of Negro Leages. Versatile star batted well over .300 most years. Speed, strong arm and fielding instincts made him standout center fielder. Later moved to first base. Also managed several teams during 40 years in Negro baseball.

In February, 1976 Negro History Month evolves into African-American History Month, also known as Black History Month.

Using his "Southern Strategy" once again, Richard Nixon wins reelection as President of the United States.

Lifetime Statistics: Oscar played organized baseball from 1915 to 1954, though the Negro League as we understand it day was not formed until 1920.

Teams: Bowser's ABCs, Indianapolis ABCs, Lincoln Stars, Chicago American Giants, St. Louis Giants, Harrisburg Giants, Hilldale Giants, Homestead Grays, Pittsburgh Crawfords, Toledo Crawfords, Indianapolis Crawfords, Philadelphia Stars, Brooklyn Brown Dodgers, and the Indianapolis Clowns.

Lifetime Batting Average - .376

He played in 53 exhibition games against white major leaguers, hitting .318 with 11 HR. (Please note that statistics for players vary by source, as not all statistics have been compiled for the Negro League.)

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Editor's Notes: If you enjoyed this article, you may find Paul Robeson: The Courageous Journey of interest. Both articles are published for Suite101's Black History Month event for 2003.

I wish to acknowledge the following sources, which were invaluable in writing this article:

W. Augustus Low and Virgil A. Clift's Encyclopedia of Black America (New York: Da Capo Press, 1984), and Harry A. Ploski and Warren Marr's The Negro Almanac (New York: Bellwether Co., 1976).

African American Perspectives of the Library of Congress from which I gathered some elements of the timeline.

The copyright of the article Oscar Charleston and U.S. - Numbers, Names, Dates and Places - Page 4 in Care of the Soul is owned by . Permission to republish Oscar Charleston and U.S. - Numbers, Names, Dates and Places - Page 4 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.