Attucks not only took pride in their students and staff, but also their successful basketball team. From the moment Attucks opened its doors in 1927, the basketball team was treated unfairly by white basketball players. It took a dedicated principal, Dr. Russell Lane, a motivated coach, Ray Crowe, and a talented starter, Oscar Robertson, to help gain respect and bridge equality.
"We had to travel way up north, and then way down south in the state to find schools that would play us." In 1927, the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), tragically refused to admit Crispus Attucks High School, claiming it was a private school because it only had black students. The Secretary of ISHAA, Arthur Trester, turned them down explaining that his "hands were tied." There would have been an uproar across Indiana from other white schools.
"By slamming the door loudly in Indianapolis, Trester could make his message heard by black community leaders throughout Indiana.: don't even try to get in." |
Crispus Attucks Regional Victory, Indianapolis Star, 1954
Eventually the team's willingness to travel further for a chance to play a game finally persuaded the Athletic Director of Ellettsville High School to write a letter in 1933 to Trester; he pleaded for an opportunity to play Attucks. Trester agreed and a game date was set. Attucks won and slowly the school's reputation grew as Attucks won game after game. In 1941, Attucks triumphantly was admitted formally into IHSAA.
After many chances at the state finals, a breakthrough came in 1955 when Attucks beat Roosevelt High School in the championship game. It was the first time an all black team won a city championship nationwide. Unfortunately, even after Attucks won the championship they were treated unfairly and still held to Jim Crow practices. Past winners received a long victory parade, but they had a quick lap to keep the white citizens quiet. "They were champions, but they were still segregated, still unwelcome, still outcast. It felt like they were champions of their neighborhood, not the whole city," stated Phillip Hoose. "White's could see his talents, but what whites did not know was a special niche Oscar Robertson had in the hearts of black athletes everywhere. For it was Oscar, as a player at an all-black high school in Indianapolis called Crispus Attucks, who had led his team to the state championship in 1955 and 1956. The state tourney in Indiana was something of a national event, and until then it had been a white-dominated event... There were thousands and thousands of blacks who would never set foot inside Indiana who knew what happened." |
Winning Championship Team, Indy Star, 1955
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Oscar Robertson Blocking A Shot, Indy Star, 1955
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