RUNNING for INTEGRATION: CCNY and the PROMISE of INTERRACIAL COOPERATION THROUGH BASKETBALL Arthur Banton Purdue University
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Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs Open Access Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2016 RUNNING FOR INTEGRATION: CCNY AND THE PROMISE OF INTERRACIAL COOPERATION THROUGH BASKETBALL Arthur Banton Purdue University Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations Recommended Citation Banton, Arthur, "RUNNING FOR INTEGRATION: CCNY AND THE PROMISE OF INTERRACIAL COOPERATION THROUGH BASKETBALL" (2016). Open Access Dissertations. 1496. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/1496 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Graduate School Form 30 Updated 12/26/2015 PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL Thesis/Dissertation Acceptance This is to certify that the thesis/dissertation prepared By Arthur Banton Entitled RUNNING FOR INTEGRATION: CCNY AND THE PROMISE OF INTERRACIAL COOPERATION THROUGH BASKETBALL Doctor of Philosophy For the degree of Is approved by the final examining committee: Dr. Susan Curtis Chair Dr. William Harper Dr. Ronald J. Stephens Dr. Cheryl Cooky To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Thesis/Dissertation Agreement, Publication Delay, and Certification Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 32), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University’s “Policy of Integrity in Research” and the use of copyright material. Approved by Major Professor(s): Susan Curtis Approved by: Rayvon Fouche July 7, 2016 Head of the Departmental Graduate Program Date i RUNNING FOR INTEGRATION: CCNY AND THE PROMISE OF INTERRACIAL COOPERATION THROUGH BASKETBALL A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University by Arthur Banton In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy i August 2016 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana ii This dissertation is dedicated to my best friend and mother Yvonne Zenobia Evans Banton who passed away in 2015 during the completion of this project. 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ - The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I would like to thank God for his blessings, guidance, and strength to preserve through all the challenges that I had to endure during this journey to completion. It was your voice that led me 800 miles from New York City to the “cornfields” of Indiana. In this rural (compared to New York City), serene wilderness of West Lafayette, I was able to (and surprisingly) develop intellectually and find my scholarly voice. There are so many people that I would like to thank that my list feels like the end credits of a summer blockbuster film. I have had the privilege of writing countless essays, blogs, articles, and now a dissertation; by far the most difficult and most humbling to write are these acknowledgements. The completion of a Ph.D. requires a communal investment from friends, faculty, and most importantly family. This fact was unbeknownst to me when I started the Ph.D. program at Purdue. I now know this and have a greater understanding and appreciation for those whom also made the investment. In 2015, my mother unexpectedly passed away. For a moment, I felt like stopping because there was no need to continue. After the immediate pain subsided and my thoughts had some clarity, I started reflecting on the moments in the hospital when she introduced me in her final days to medical personnel as her son Dr. Banton. In iv retrospect, uncertain of the future, she suspected these moments might be her only opportunity to utter those words and introduce me as such. As an educator with nearly fifty years of experience, I also reflected our countless conversations about education. When I first thought about pursuing a doctorate degree she encouraged me to speak my uncle, Dr. Melvin Evans about his journey for guidance. His experience and my mother’s constant reminder about the importance of education and reflections on her pursuits of graduate study was certainly an inspiration and reminder to complete the job. As a result, I am able to write this acknowledgment because of those reflections and the investment of others in this endeavor. I would first and foremost like to thank Dr. Venetria K. Patton for giving me an opportunity to serve as an instructor in the African American Studies Research Center for several years. I have had the privilege of working for several bosses during my years of professional employment and she is by far the best. Her level of professionalism is unparalleled. She is a superb leader and role model whom expects nothing but the best from her ‘employees’ (i.e graduate students) and drives them to reach and exceed their own goals professionally and intellectually. To her I am internally grateful for her leadership and mentorship. I also would like to Ms. Matilda Stokes, the administrative assistant from the African American Studies and Research Center, whom served at times as a surrogate mom and contributed greatly to making the research center an intellectual space and my home away from home. v I next would like to thank my dissertation committee (Ronald J. Stephens, Cheryl Cooky, and William Harper) for working above and beyond, especially in the last couple of weeks preceding my defense date. All of you have been instrumental in the shaping of the body of work that follows these acknowledgements. Dr. Stephens and Dr. Cooky are widely known, respected scholars whose work continues to define and shape their areas of research. On the other hand Dr. Harper is a diamond with decades of scholarly contributions, mentorship, and service that is unrecognized and underappreciated by this generation of graduate students. A historian of sports in a department of health & kinesiology, his knowledge, mentorship and guidance is virtually unparalleled. His words of wisdom during our five years have been nothing short of extraordinary. I thank you. I would be remiss if I did not thank the faculty members who served on my preliminary exams (which many doctoral students will tell you is a life-changing moment) for their investment. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Nancy Gabin, Dr. Randy Roberts, and Dr. Joseph Dorsey who were members of my major field exam committee in American history for their investment and words of encouragement which solidified my passion for history. From the department of English, I would like to thank Dr. Lance Duefhard who was extremely helpful in his guidance and inspiration of innovative ways to integrate my passion of film into a conventional historical narrative. Since I also hold a terminal degree (M.F.A.) in cinema, we have a special connection and heightened appreciation for the moving image. I also would like to thank Aram Goudsouzian at the University of Memphis for his feedback on various selections of this project. vi The relationship between the American Studies program and the history department was at times challenging but there are few people who were extremely supportive my effort: including Dr. Cornelius Bynum, Dr. David Atkinson, Dr. Kathryn Brownell, Dr. Charles Cutter, Dr. John Larson, and Dr. Mark Morrison – who is an astounding lecturer whose passion for his craft is simply astonishing. I would also thank Dr. Darren Dochuk now at Notre Dame, who provided extremely potent words of support and guidance during some very turbulent times. Yes “cream always rises to the top.” Finally, thanks goes to Dr. Lawrence J. Mykytiuk for providing guidance to navigating the mass amount of data available for historians and historical research. I want to express my gratitude to the admissions committee in American Studies. My undergraduate portfolio was not the most alluring nor truly indicative of my abilities. My considerable improvement years later as a Master’s student is a reflection of that but I would also like to think the committee saw something that is not easily detected on paper - the determination to persevere and succeed. This is an invaluable and necessary trait in order to survive this journey with dignity. Unfortunately, young men whom look like me that were raised in some capacity are not often afforded to the opportunity to attend a University of this caliber much less to succeed in a way that is deemed respectful and held in high regard. With that said, I would like thank some present and former faculty members in American Studies whose instruction or words of wisdom have had some impact in my intellectual development including: Dr. Anne Knupfer, Dr. Bill Mullen, Dr. Ryan Schneider. vii I would also like to thank in no particular order Dr. David Rollock, Dr. Marlo David, Dr. Monica Trieu, Dr. Jennifer Freeman-Marshall, Dr. Zenephia Evans, and Dr. T.J. Boisseau who at various times served as sounding boards if not for ideas but just to keep my sanity and focus on the task at hand. Other faculty members who have served as models of inspiration in shaping my ideology and have found their calling at other institutions include: Dr. Antonio Tillis, Dr. Niambi Carter, Dr. Cerise Glenn, and Dr. Valentine Moghadam. I would like to thank Renee Thomas, the director of the Black Cultural Center for her encouragement and support. The Black Cultural Center has been refuge in countless ways for all students and a second home away from home. I would also like to acknowledge Delayne K. Graham and Brandi J. Plantenga the administrators for all their efforts in keeping the school of interdisciplinary studies and the American Studies program running smoothly as well as Dr.