Earl Lloyd played sports during a time when America attempted marginalize every aspect of Black life. Lloyd became the first Black athlete to play in the NBA once he made his debut in 1950 with the Washington Capitals.
However, he endured torment from racist fans while on the court; he couldn’t eat with his white teammates at certain restaurants; and he wasn’t allowed to stay in the same hotel as his teammates due to horrific segregation laws.
But Lloyd continued to persevere and played in over 500 games in nine seasons. He opened the doors for future Black NBA stars such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlin, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
Lloyd passed on Feb. 26 and leaves a legacy on and off the court. He taught us all about the importance of striving for greatness even when faced with overwhelming circumstances.
