My Bio

My Bio
My name is Sharon Levin and I've been reviewing children's literature for 20 years. I founded and run the Bay Area Children's Literature List. My biggest passion (outside my family) is getting books into the hands of children and teens. My favorite thing is getting non-readers to realize that they're readers. I also LOVE t-shirts that have to do with books or literature. As soon as I figure out how to do it, I'll have a click through on the above picture so you can see my entire collection (and where to get them).

January 12, 2019

Review of ATTUCKS! OSCAR ROBERTSON and the BASKETBALL TEAM THAT AWAKENED A CITY




I was thrilled to receive a review copy of ATTUCKS! OSCAR ROBERTSON and the BASKETBALL TEAM THAT AWAKENED A CITY by Phillip Hoose.

Children's and YA literature often introduces me to parts of history I know nothing about (i.e. Dreamland Burning, My Mother The Cheerleader, Crossing Ebenezer Creek and anything by Ruta Sepetys).  It was Hoose's own Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice that introduced so many of us to this brave young woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus (nine months before Rosa Parks)

I appreciate that in Attucks, Hoose owns his whiteness and lack of exposure (in his youth) to People of Color, specifically African Americans.  He admits that he thought the name of the all black high school in Indianapolis was Christmas Attucks (which is a terrible reflection on the U.S. History being taught at his 99.9% white high school across the river in Speedway, Indianapolis).

So, as a white woman and ex middle school girls' basketball coach (my main role was to repeat the other coach's instructions in my hard-to-ignore 'playground voice') I was very eager to learn about this team that forever changed high school basketball in Indiana.

Let's start with the positives (this is how book award committees normally work and I like that format).

The book focuses on Oscar Robertson, the star player for the Attucks team and considered "the greatest basketball player ever in Indiana."

Hoose met with Robertson when researching an article for Sports Illustrated.  "One scrap from that conversation inspired the book you're reading now."  (p. 3)

"You know," Oscar said, "when the Ku Klux Klan started our school, they really didn't understand what they were doing."

Hoose goes on from this starting point to do an amazing job telling the story of this young man, the school, the community and the state.  He puts in first hand accounts of the jaw-dropping ignorance and racism i.e. one little white boy who kept scratching an Attucks' cheerleader's arm and tasting his finger until she told him "It isn't chocolate, it's my skin, the same as yours. I'm just darker than you are." (p. 40)

He emphasizes the power of the KKK, specifically in the person of D.C. Stephenson who (accurately) stated, "I am the law in Indiana." (p.18)  Hoose's recounting of the opening of Crispus Attucks High School in 1927 through the winning, culture-changing basketball teams of the mid 1950's shines a light on a little known, little written about, chapter in Civil Rights History.

BUT, some language choices and errors jumped out at me, and if I (a 56 year old white woman)
saw them, there are probably other errors that will jump out at PoC.

Let's start with language.  Here is the description of our hero, Oscar Robertson, "... a tall, lean, gangly boy with large, slightly protruding eyes...." (p. 94)

Protruding eyes are often used in caricatures or mocking portrayals of African Americans, so it's a descriptor I would leave out unless Robertson had Graves' Disease and Hoose was listing symptoms.  To make this more disturbing (to me), there is a photo of Robertson on this page and the word 'protruding' is not even vaguely accurate, so why is it used?

Further in the book (p. 135) Hoose is talking about Attucks High School playing Muncie Central and the betting going on about the game.  he states, "It was a game over which a great deal of money changed hands--black dollars and white dollars.  Attucks games had long been heavily wagered, with racial prejudice driving many white fans to bet with their hearts rather than their heads against a black team."

I'm aware that what he is saying is that their emotions, specifically hatred and racism, had them making unwise bets.  However, being guided by one's heart normally has positive connotations.

There are some big inaccuracies or miscommunication in the text as well.

Hoose introduces the story of Bernard McPeak (p. 99) an African American man, who had '"applied for membership in the Indiana Officials Association" but he was rejected by a vote of 40-7 and Hoose writes, "The organization's president, Clayton Nichols, matter-of-factly explained the reason to a reporter: "It was because of his color." (p. 100)

Put like that, it sounds as if President Nichols is incredibly racist and supportive of the Association's decision.  In fact, the HEADLINE on p. 102 states:   REFEREES' PREJUDICE EXPOSED BY OFFICIAL OF ASSOCIATION!

In other words, President Nichols was incredibly angry about the vote and immediately called out the racism of a majority of his groups' members (Ah, if only a current organization would call out the racism of a majority of its members, *cough* GOP *cough*).

Is this a huge error?  Well, not huge, but it's an error that shouldn't have happened, given the correct information is in the PRIMARY SOURCE material in this very book.

On this same page (p. 100) Hoose states "The (Attucks) Tigers never saw a black referee." BUT, when we look at the primary source (newspaper article on p.103) it says "McPeak is certified by the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and has worked a number of high school games here.  His latest assignment was the Attucks-Ladoga contest..."

I'm not sure why Hoose made these errors.  Is it to make the racism seem worse?  The bigotry is heinous and blatant already, so there's really not a need to attribute racism to a man who fought it (Nichols) or create a situation that didn't exist ("never saw a black referee").

All in all, ATTUCKS tells a fascinating story and I'm glad to have learned this history.  It disturbs me though, that I cannot truly trust all that I read, since it seems to me that care was not taken with the facts or language in this book.

41 comments:

  1. I so appreciate this review! So thorough, the good and the bad and the protruding...

    ReplyDelete
  2. just a chic review of this literature. Interestingly described the essence of the book, which plunges into the world of the writer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The beauty of basketball is that you don't have to have access to a fancy court or expensive equipment, as you do with some other popular sports. 안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  4. He could have effectively would not return as he was incorporated into the title winning group however he needed to return and prevail upon the great all once more. With one of its stars having such an attitude, Team Japan is cheery that different stars will pursue.
    토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for a very interesting blog. What else may I get that kind of info written in such a perfect approach? I’ve a undertaking that I am simply now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such info. composite leather * basketball pump shoes * best outdoor basketball sjoes

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is very smart, really an intelligent idea. This is my first time in your blog and I really love it. Thanks for this awesome post. their website

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your blog is too much amazing. I have found with ease what I was looking. Moreover, the content quality is awesome. Thanks for the nudge! 안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  8. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commentators here! 안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  9. Once more, for a snicker you can customize a T-shirt, towel, a major stockpile of sports cream for every one of the a throbbing painfulness, make an entertaining activity instructional exercise or whatever else you can think about that would be clever. Basketball uniforms

    ReplyDelete
  10. The article looks magnificent, but it would be beneficial if you can share more about the suchlike subjects in the future. Keep posting. soccer scores api

    ReplyDelete
  11. There are stars that are not afraid to make their beauty sparkle in complex necklaces or earrings. Academy Awards 2020 Live Streaming

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi there, thanks to giving such a meaningful insight to the world of Asian escort NYC. This post is a must read before you are figuring out to have some sensual romance in New York. It is a detailed analysis and highly useful. Thanks a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  13. It’s an easy to read and understand post and gentlemen can really know in detail regarding NYC Asian escort and their services. I enjoyed reading in between the lines and within a few minutes I finished the whole. At the end I was completely aroused and finally made the booking through the given info.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sharon, tell Mike I'm trying to get in touch with him at 413-2374

    ReplyDelete
  15. So, no matter how you play basketball it is the right way as long as you have the ball and hoop. You can play whatever way feels best for you with whatever rules you want. You can play with as many players as you want on whatever type of court you want. The bottom line is that you just have fun while you are doing it.Vertical Jump

    ReplyDelete
  16. I really enjoy simply reading all of your weblogs. Simply wanted to inform you that you have people like me who appreciate your work. Definitely a great post. Hats off to you! The information that you have provided is very helpful. How to Dunk a Basketball even if your Short

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have every right to do what I want with my money. I earned it, after all. It's mine.online sports betting

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi there, I discovered your blog per Google bit searching for such kinda educational advise moreover your inform beholds very remarkable for me. flower shop in Pune

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have been checking out a few of your stories and i can state pretty good stuff. I will definitely bookmark your blog 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great post I like it very much keep up the good work. 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anyway I’ll be subscribing on your augment or even I success you access constantly quickly. 파워볼사이트

    ReplyDelete
  22. I've been searching for hours on this topic and finally found your post. 안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  23. If possible, please visit my website as well. Thank you. 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've been searching for hours on this topic 바카라사이트

    ReplyDelete
  25. If possible, please visit my website as well. 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  26. The article posted was very informative and useful. You people are doing a great job. Keep going 에볼루션카지노

    ReplyDelete
  27. complete thumbs up for this magneficent article of yours. I have simply enjoyed analyzing this article today and i think this might be one of the best article that i have study but. Please, preserve this paintings going on inside the same exceptional. you truely make it look so clean along with your performance however i locate this matter to be simply something which i think i would in no way recognize. It appears too complicated and extraordinarily wide for me. I am searching forward to your subsequent post, i’ll try to get the hold of it! Wow, awesome, i was thinking the way to treatment acne certainly. And observed your web page by using google, discovered a lot, now i’m a bit clear. I’ve bookmark your website and additionally upload rss. Preserve us updated. This put up is quite simple to examine and appreciate with out leaving any information out. Notable paintings! Thank you for this text, i advise you in case you want excursion corporation this is fine agency for toursits in dubai. This is an terrific put up i seen way to percentage it. Quite good post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that i've in reality loved studying your weblog posts. Any way i will be subscribing in your feed and i hope you submit again soon. Massive thanks for the useful info. I found your this submit at the same time as looking for records approximately weblog-associated research ... It's a very good put up .. Preserve posting and updating records. I suppose that thanks for the valuabe information and insights you have got so provided right here. It's miles a exceptional website.. The design seems superb.. Keep running like that! I desired to thank you for this top notch examine!! I without a doubt loved every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the new belongings you submit. It became a excellent publish certainly. I very well loved studying it in my lunch time. Will genuinely come and visit this blog extra often. Thank you for sharing. Absolutely first-rate and thrilling post. I was seeking out this kind of data and loved studying this one. Maintain posting. Thank you for sharing. This publish is right sufficient to make anyone understand this top notch factor, and i’m certain anyone will respect this thrilling things. I just located this weblog and feature excessive hopes for it to hold. Preserve up the high-quality paintings, its hard to locate correct ones. I have introduced to my favorites. Thanks. I found this content is very beneficial. Your article will be very useful for all of us. It is particularly catastrophe emergency package useful and extremely useful and that i extremely took in a great deal from it. Thank you for sharing. I truely like your writing fashion, remarkable information, thankyou for posting. Quite proper put up. I simply stumbled upon your blog and desired to say that i've clearly loved reading your weblog put up. Its a incredible satisfaction studying your publish. I would simply like to help recognize it with the efforts you get with writing this post. Thanks for sharing. I found your this publish at the same time as searching for statistics about blog-associated studies ... It's an excellent submit .. Maintain posting and updating statistics. I can see which you are an professional at your discipline! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very beneficial for me.. Thanks for all your assist and wishing you all of the achievement for your enterprise. This is a extraordinary article thanks for sharing this informative records. I'm able to visit your weblog regularly for some contemporary submit. I will go to your weblog frequently for some modern submit. You have got completed a superb job on this newsletter 헤이먹튀

    ReplyDelete
  28. i surely desired to say thanks once more. I'm no longer certain the matters i might’ve made to show up in the absence of the hints discussed by you over such region. Entirely turned into an absolute horrifying subject in my position, but being capable of view the properly-written avenue you solved that forced me to jump for fulfillment. Now i'm grateful for your assistance and as properly , hope you're privy to a extraordinary activity you occur to be engaging in teaching humans nowadays using your websites. I'm certain you have got by no means encountered any folks. High-quality post. I discover a few component tons more difficult on various blogs normal. Most usually it is stimulating to have a look at content material from other writers and exercising a specific aspect from their internet site. I’d opt to follow positive while using the content on this little blog whether or not or now not you do not thoughts. Natually i’ll offer a link on your personal net blog. Respect your sharing. I'm curious to discover what blog system you're working with? I’m experiencing some small safety issues with my trendy website and i would love to discover something greater relaxed. Tremendous weblog you have got right here but i was questioning if you knew of any boards that cover the same topics mentioned right here? I’d in reality like to be part of institution where i will get recommendation from other informed individuals that share the identical interest. When you have any tips, please permit me recognize. Thank you! Thanks for the coolest critique. Me & my pal had been simply preparing to perform a little studies about this. We got a e-book from our vicinity library however i suppose i’ve discovered more from this post. I’m very glad to look such fantastic information being shared freely accessible… 안전놀이터

    ReplyDelete
  29. first you obtain a excellent blog . I will be interested in greater similar topics. I see you got without a doubt very useful subjects, i can be always checking your blog thank you. Took me time to apprehend all the remarks, but i critically enjoyed the write-up. It proved being actually helpful to me and im high-quality to all the commenters proper here! Its continuously quality whilst you can't handiest be knowledgeable, but additionally entertained! I am positive you had exciting scripting this write-up. You re in point of reality a simply right webmaster. The internet site loading pace is excellent. It sort of feels that you're doing any exceptional trick. Moreover, the contents are masterpiece. You've got achieved a brilliant interest in this problem! I want you to thank in your time of this splendid examine!!! I definately enjoy each little bit of it and i have you ever bookmarked to check out new stuff of your blog a ought to examine blog! You completed some of first-rate factors there. Cool you write, the facts is superb and interesting, i'll provide you with a link to my web site. I am very loved for this weblog. Its an informative subject matter. It help me very a lot to remedy some problems. Its possibility are so tremendous and working style so rapid. I actually like you are composing fashion, superb records, thankyou for posting. I see the best contents on your weblog and that i extremely love reading them. You truly make it look so smooth together with your performance however i locate this depend to be truely some thing which i assume i would never recognize. It appears too complex and extraordinarily large for me. I'm searching ahead to your subsequent post, i’ll try and get the cling of it! Thanks for sharing this records. I truely like your weblog submit very a whole lot. You have surely shared a informative and exciting weblog submit with people. I’m excited to uncover this web page. I want to to thanks for ones time for this mainly high-quality read!! I genuinely genuinely liked each part of it and that i additionally have you ever saved to fav to study new records on your site. I’ve read a few exact stuff here. Clearly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I marvel how a good deal effort you placed to create this sort of tremendous informative internet site. Thumbs up guys your doing a genuinely appropriate activity. I appreciate this article because it is complete of information i are looking for. I may additionally go to the website frequently to replace the ultra-modern data. An significantly famous and loved web-based totally e mail provider, aol mail is now a famend call. The mail service has gained its fundamental fan following due to the fastest interface and functions which are person-pleasant. You need to pick out this platform because right here, you get convenient get right of entry to to your emails and additionally experience numerous capabilities that are extraordinary. Clearly outstanding article. Thank you for sharing such precious statistics with us. I loved to examine this publish. That is actually helpful. Please preserve going with such properly articles. exceptional to be visiting your blog once more, it has been months for me. Properly this article that i have been waited for so long. I need this newsletter to finish my venture in the university, and it has same topic with your article. Thank you, great percentage. This is actually a pleasing and informative, containing all information and also has a awesome effect on the brand new era. Thanks for sharing it 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  30. howdy. Neat publish. There's an trouble along with your web site in firefox, and you may need to check this… the browser is the market chief and a large part of different humans will omit your incredible writing because of this hassle. Notable statistics in your blog, thanks for taking the time to share with us. Exceptional insight you've got on this, it's first-class to discover a internet site that information a lot records approximately special artists. Thank you high-quality article. After i saw jon’s e-mail, i realize the publish will be good and i am surprised which you wrote it guy! 가족방

    ReplyDelete
  31. youre so cool! I dont think ive examine anything just like this previous to. So quality to discover any person with some original mind in this concern. Realy appreciation for beginning this up. This internet website online is one area that is needed at the net, any individual if we do originality. Useful job for bringing new stuff for the internet! I'm extremely joyful that i observed this net blog , just the proper information that i was searching out! . It's miles without a doubt a nice and useful piece of statistics. I’m glad that you just shared this beneficial tidbit with us. Please stay us updated like this. Thanks for sharing. This is the proper blog for each person who hopes to find out about this subject matter. You recognize an entire lot its nearly hard to argue alongside (no longer that i genuinely would need…haha). You really put an entire new spin for a topic thats been written approximately for years. Outstanding stuff, just remarkable! The internet website online is lovingly serviced and saved as an awful lot as date. So it need to be, thank you for sharing this with us. This net web page is called a stroll-with the aid of for all of the facts you wanted approximately this and didn’t recognize who to ask. Glimpse proper right here, and you’ll undoubtedly discover it. Proper publish and a pleasing summation of the hassle. My best trouble with the analysis is given that lots of the populace joined the refrain of deregulatory mythology, given vested hobby is inclined toward perpetuation of the cutting-edge system and given a loss of a famous cheerleader to your arguments, i’m now not seeing a good deal within the way of exchange. I might absolutely love to visitor publish in your weblog . A few certainly first-class stuff in this net web page , i love it. Im no professional, but i remember you simply made the excellent factor. You clearly know what youre talking about, and i can truly get behind that. Thanks for being so prematurely and so honest. 우리카지노

    ReplyDelete
  32. I assume this is an informative submit and it is very useful and knowledgeable. Consequently, i would love to thank you for the efforts you've got made in writing this text. Acknowledges for paper any such useful composition, i stumbled beside your blog except decipher a limited announce. I want your method of inscription... It is excellent, but look at the information at this cope with 먹튀연구실

    ReplyDelete
  33. i am involved this informative article. There are so many matters mentioned here i had by no means thought of earlier than. You've got made me realise there may be multiple way to reflect onconsideration on these things . That is my first go to in your weblog! We are a crew of volunteers and new projects within the same niche. Blog gave us beneficial information to paintings. You've got executed an outstanding process! Extraordinary publish. I have been analyzing about this issue. So a commitment of thankfulness is all together to publish. Totally cool put up. It 's highly exceptionally ok and useful put up. Thank you . That is important, even though it's vital to help you head over to it weblink: 먹튀대피소

    ReplyDelete
  34. exquisite submit i ought to say and thanks for the data. Education is surely a sticky concern. But, continues to be the various main topics of our time. I admire your publish and look forward to greater . Hiya! Τhis іѕ kind of off topic however i need somе recommendation frοm аn set up blog. Ιs it very difficult tо installation your оwn weblog? I’m no longer very techincal but Ӏ сan discern tһings օut quite fɑst. I’m thinking aƅօut crdating my personal but Ӏ’m nott sure wһere to begin. Do you hawve ɑnew york hints օr hints? Many thank you thank you for sharing this first rate blog, i get a lot facts from this weblog . 파워에이스

    ReplyDelete
  35. It is a great website.. The Design looks very good.. Keep working like that!. 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  36. I was looking at some of your posts on this website and I conceive this web site is really instructive! Keep putting up.. 토토 사이트

    ReplyDelete
  37. it was a wonderful chance to visit this kind of site and I am happy to know. thank you so much for giving us a chance to have this opportunity.. 토토커뮤니티

    ReplyDelete
  38. It was very well authored and easy to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he ejoyed it as well! In the wake of perusing your article I was stunned. I realize that you clarify it exceptionally well. What's more, I trust that different perusers will likewise encounter how I feel in the wake of perusing your article 토토SOS

    ReplyDelete
  39. This is worth it to read for everyone. Thank you for sharing good ideas to all your readers and continue inspiring us! 토토커뮤니티

    ReplyDelete