| In 1953 the Brooklyn Dodgers made history by starting | | | | sport. "It's terrible to find yourself being stereotyped," |
| five players of African descent (Americans Jackie | | | | Sherwood told ABC News, "regardless of who you |
| Robinson, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Jim | | | | are." |
| Gilliam, plus Cuban Sandy Amoros). It was the first time | | | | Major League Lacrosse claims that African American |
| that more than half the starting players on a major | | | | athlete participation in the sport is growing. Former All |
| league baseball team were black. | | | | Star Goalie Bill Daye, an African American who had to |
| Last year a similar moment took place in collegiate | | | | retire because of a neck injury, is bullish on the |
| lacrosse when the Baltimore Sun reported that Virginia | | | | progress he has seen. |
| fielded a midfield made up of all African American | | | | "I think it's great for lacrosse that more |
| athletes for about 30 seconds in the third quarter until | | | | African-American players are involved and it has |
| Rhamel Bratton scored a goal and the lines were | | | | made the game more diverse," Daye said. "When I |
| changed. | | | | began playing I was one of the few black athletes |
| Drew Pannell and Ryland Huyghue are both founding | | | | involved and sometimes I took some heat for it |
| members of the International Diversity Lacrosse | | | | because it was thought of as a sport in which only |
| Council (IDLC). According to the Sun, the IDLC, founded | | | | white athletes participated. |
| in 2007, provides services and programs that impact | | | | "I simply fell in love with the game as I'm sure other |
| inner city and other under-served communities. | | | | African American players have. For that sole reason it |
| "There is major significance here," Huyghue told the | | | | should not matter what color your skin is but how you |
| Sun. "The fact is that there are less than two percent | | | | perform when you step on the field." Daye particularly |
| of African-American athletes playing the sport of | | | | cited John Christmas, Damien Davis and Kyle Harrison |
| lacrosse. It shows the sport has no color boundaries | | | | as examples of what African American Athletes can |
| and that anyone of any background can play the sport | | | | accomplish as prejudices and barriers fall and more |
| and play it well. It also shows that the coach is looking | | | | opportunity is realized. "I hope they will pave the road |
| at them as athletes whom he has confidence in to get | | | | for more black lacrosse players to follow," he said. |
| the job done. What happened on the field that | | | | "Lacrosse has never had a platform like the NBA, NFL, |
| Saturday was a major advancement in the sport of | | | | or Major League Baseball," said Joshua Christian, |
| lacrosse." | | | | Managing Director of Sports Development at US |
| When many Americans think of lacrosse their minds | | | | Lacrosse. "Lacrosse doesn't have those iconic figures |
| flash back to the Duke lacrosse rape case which | | | | like Michael Jordan. The general public just hasn't been |
| ended in the charges dropped against the accused | | | | exposed to it. There are no identifiable heroes." |
| players and severe penalties against the local | | | | In fact, the biggest lacrosse figure is better know for |
| prosecutor for misconduct. In this case, the alleged | | | | playing football, Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown. |
| victim was African American, the accused were | | | | Brown was a two-time lacrosse All-American at |
| Caucasian, and there was one African American | | | | Syracuse University from 1954 to 1957. Brown is |
| athlete on the team. | | | | considered by many to be the greatest ever to play |
| At the height of the coverage, Duke African American | | | | the game and was inducted into the National Lacrosse |
| athlete and lacrosse player Devon Sherwood stepped | | | | Hall of Fame in 1983. |
| forward and told ABC News that his white | | | | As lacrosse raises its profile and African American |
| teammates were being stereotyped and were victims | | | | athletes emerge as stars, African American |
| of reverse discrimination. Sherwood also said that | | | | participation will grow. As has been proven for more |
| members of the black community in Durham accused | | | | than 60 years, the need to win and the rewards that |
| him of selling-out the race because of his Duke | | | | follow will trump any need to exclude. |
| scholarship and his position in the traditionally white | | | | |