Month of Feb: Black Athletes Disrupting White Supremacy in Oregon

These exhibit panels were displayed on the campuses of the University of Oregon and Oregon State University during February 2014 to accompany public programs about national and state history related to African American football players. The exhibit panels were created by Dr. Darrell Millner of Portland State University in collaboration with OHS staff. 

The history of race in America is defined by the early establishment of white supremacy and subsequent struggles for racial equity. Through both religion and pseudoscience, white racial superiority was rationalized as justification for white political and social domination. Although American society initially attempted to maintain rigid segregation in sports arenas, athletes of color integrated athletic competition and played powerful roles in the pursuit of racial justice and equity.