Content Warning: This section of the Guide discusses themes surrounding racism and sexism in sports, including intimidation. Additionally, the source text uses outdated and offensive terms for Black people throughout, which is replicated in this guide only in direct quotes of the source material.

The Black community has a long and tenuous history within American sports. Though sports were among the first institutions to allow Black individuals to participate, sports were not free from racial prejudices and were frequently segregated. Some significant “first” Black players in primary sports included Moses Fleetwood Walker in baseball; Lucy Diggs Stowe, the first Black woman to win a tennis title; and Sherman “Jocko” Maxwell, the first Black sportscaster.

The prominence of Black baseball players rose in the late 1940s when Jackie Robinson joined Major League Baseball. The Dodgers signing Robinson was significant because, beginning in the 1880s, Black players were relegated to separate, segregated leagues, referred to as the “Negro Leagues,” which the novel highlights through Shenice’s great-grandfather, JonJon. After Robinson joined the Dodgers in 1947, he officially broke the “color line” in baseball and became a highly decorated player with a successful career. His success paved the way for future generations of children who aspired—and continue to aspire—to pursue a career in professional sports.