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Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame To Induct White Advocates for Equality

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA (USA) – History was made when the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (AAESHOF), a USA-based organization dedicated to honoring sports legends from various countries, inducted Abebe Bikila, Mamo Wolde, and Haile Gebrselassie at its historic induction ceremony at Addis Ababa University in May 2009.
The Hall of Fame is announcing that it has established a “special” category, and will induct white athletes who have contributed to athletes of color and their communities. While the inductee pool remains pure, this provides the latitude to recognize others who have contributed to the cause.
Since undertaking the awesome task of identifying and recognizing the most outstanding achievements of African American and athletes of color, one fact has been highly apparent to us: the separation of the extraordinary accomplishments of individual athletes solely by racial category is artificial as it may, in some respects for some periods of time, be socially important and necessary.
The aphorism that “no man is an island unto himself” is as manifest in the world of sports and athletics as it is in all of life itself. Just as the striving for justice in the larger society, it becomes necessary to complete the mosaic of human accomplishment by telling the stories in their total complexity. This includes honoring individuals and nations of various ethnicities and climes, so it becomes necessary in applauding athletic accomplishments of one ethnic group, especially in a free society, will inevitably be influenced by the heroism and sacrifices of members of other ethnic groups. To fail to recognize this essential truth would be willful abnegation of a larger truth of which we are all aware, and the failure to contribute to a larger society where social justice is achieved and rewarded, a goal to which we aspire.
It is in this recognition and spirit the AAESHOF has decided to establish an integrated character of achievers to include non- persons of color who have contributed significantly to the goals to which these recognized individuals and our organization aspire. Just as America has come to recognize the contributions of African Americans more widely and has recently inaugurated its first African- American president, AAESHO in the same period hereby signals our awareness of the progress and evolution of our thinking of formal recognition to achievers of other ethnic groups who have contributed significantly to the goals of our organization, and to the goals of those great athletes, who we regularly applaud and celebrate.
“I think adjusting your Hall of Fame to include all humans, regardless of color, is a brilliant stroke,” said Monte Poole, sports columnist for the Bay Area News Group. “Some might believe any change would dilute the Hall, make it somehow less pure. The way I see it, you’d be recognizing not just the color of one’s skin but all those, regardless of skin color, who contributed to the cause of equality.”
The Hall of Fame was established in 2000 to honor retired professional athletes of color, but recently decided to induct white players, as well. Black athletes have been asked to nominate one or more white players who have made a major contribution to his/her career and personal life, and state why that person should be inducted.
“I’m in support of it,” board member Michael Hart said. “I believe President Obama is reflecting the vision touted by Dr. (Martin Luther) King that we need to get to the point where color of skin does not preclude unity and understanding and relationships. And that comes through leadership. Your leadership sends a very important, very powerful message to the young people who experience the induction ceremonies. And the African-American athletes, and their bonds with white athletes is important modeling.”
“Recognition of white athletes by black organizations is long overdue, and I believe it should be done,” said Cedrick Hardman, who played for the San Francisco ’49ers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13-year tenure in the National Football League. “I would nominate John Brodie because he was instrumental in helping me to become the football player I became.”
“Many Halls of Fame have categories for contributors, so why not this one?” asked Arif Khatib, Founder/President of the AAESHOF. “Just as the trailblazer Jackie Robinson needed Branch Rickey, so did other pioneers benefit from relationships with white men and women who grasped the concept of the greater good. Anyone familiar with the history of baseball and basketball in Oakland realizes that greats like Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, Vada Pinson, Bill Russell, and others credit the late coach George Powles for opening doors that otherwise might have remained closed. Men like Powles had authority and access they were eager to share with youngsters of color.”
AAESHOF is a 501 © (3) US nonprofit organization, and is dedicated to the development of opportunities for less fortunate youth to gain exposure to positive aspects of life. We also broaden the public’s understanding of African- American and African history, and the role of diversity and cultural tolerance in the growth of professional sports. We strive to give them the opportunity to better understand the impact African-American and African athletes have had on American sports and society.
The Hall of Fame is sponsored and has a travel partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.
For more information please call 510-508-3309 afrosportshall@aol.com.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA (USA) – History was made when the African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame (AAESHOF), a USA-based organization dedicated to honoring sports legends from various countries, inducted Abebe Bikila, Mamo Wolde, and Haile Gebrselassie at its historic induction ceremony at Addis Ababa University in May 2009.

The Hall of Fame is announcing that it has established a “special” category, and will induct white athletes who have contributed to athletes of color and their communities. While the inductee pool remains pure, this provides the latitude to recognize others who have contributed to the cause.

Since undertaking the awesome task of identifying and recognizing the most outstanding achievements of African American and athletes of color, one fact has been highly apparent to us: the separation of the extraordinary accomplishments of individual athletes solely by racial category is artificial as it may, in some respects for some periods of time, be socially important and necessary.

The aphorism that “no man is an island unto himself” is as manifest in the world of sports and athletics as it is in all of life itself. Just as the striving for justice in the larger society, it becomes necessary to complete the mosaic of human accomplishment by telling the stories in their total complexity. This includes honoring individuals and nations of various ethnicities and climes, so it becomes necessary in applauding athletic accomplishments of one ethnic group, especially in a free society, will inevitably be influenced by the heroism and sacrifices of members of other ethnic groups. To fail to recognize this essential truth would be willful abnegation of a larger truth of which we are all aware, and the failure to contribute to a larger society where social justice is achieved and rewarded, a goal to which we aspire.

It is in this recognition and spirit the AAESHOF has decided to establish an integrated character of achievers to include non- persons of color who have contributed significantly to the goals to which these recognized individuals and our organization aspire. Just as America has come to recognize the contributions of African Americans more widely and has recently inaugurated its first African- American president, AAESHO in the same period hereby signals our awareness of the progress and evolution of our thinking of formal recognition to achievers of other ethnic groups who have contributed significantly to the goals of our organization, and to the goals of those great athletes, who we regularly applaud and celebrate.

“I think adjusting your Hall of Fame to include all humans, regardless of color, is a brilliant stroke,” said Monte Poole, sports columnist for the Bay Area News Group. “Some might believe any change would dilute the Hall, make it somehow less pure. The way I see it, you’d be recognizing not just the color of one’s skin but all those, regardless of skin color, who contributed to the cause of equality.”

The Hall of Fame was established in 2000 to honor retired professional athletes of color, but recently decided to induct white players, as well. Black athletes have been asked to nominate one or more white players who have made a major contribution to his/her career and personal life, and state why that person should be inducted.

“I’m in support of it,” board member Michael Hart said. “I believe President Obama is reflecting the vision touted by Dr. (Martin Luther) King that we need to get to the point where color of skin does not preclude unity and understanding and relationships. And that comes through leadership. Your leadership sends a very important, very powerful message to the young people who experience the induction ceremonies. And the African-American athletes, and their bonds with white athletes is important modeling.”

“Recognition of white athletes by black organizations is long overdue, and I believe it should be done,” said Cedrick Hardman, who played for the San Francisco ’49ers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13-year tenure in the National Football League. “I would nominate John Brodie because he was instrumental in helping me to become the football player I became.”

“Many Halls of Fame have categories for contributors, so why not this one?” asked Arif Khatib, Founder/President of the AAESHOF. “Just as the trailblazer Jackie Robinson needed Branch Rickey, so did other pioneers benefit from relationships with white men and women who grasped the concept of the greater good. Anyone familiar with the history of baseball and basketball in Oakland realizes that greats like Frank Robinson, Curt Flood, Vada Pinson, Bill Russell, and others credit the late coach George Powles for opening doors that otherwise might have remained closed. Men like Powles had authority and access they were eager to share with youngsters of color.”

AAESHOF is a 501 © (3) US nonprofit organization, and is dedicated to the development of opportunities for less fortunate youth to gain exposure to positive aspects of life. We also broaden the public’s understanding of African- American and African history, and the role of diversity and cultural tolerance in the growth of professional sports. We strive to give them the opportunity to better understand the impact African-American and African athletes have had on American sports and society.

The Hall of Fame is sponsored and has a travel partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.

For more information please call 510-508-3309 afrosportshall@aol.com.

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510-568-5899, lajpr@aol.com

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