Rare Film of Atlanta Black Crackers Unearthed
From Doug Richards at WXIA-TV in Atlanta on March 6:
If the Atlanta Black Crackers had a heyday, this film depicts it. In 1938, the team played in the Negro Major Leagues for one season, then promptly returned to the minor leagues. The film barely scratches the surface of that team.
“I believe it’s the only known footage of the Atlanta Black Crackers that exists,” said John Crater of the Atlanta History Center. “And to have something like that is just a gem for our collection.”
The Atlanta History Center discovered barely 50 seconds of Atlanta Black Crackers footage, commissioned by the Atlanta Negro Chamber of Commerce. The film shows a number of images of African American life in Atlanta in 1938.
To view the film or read the full article, click here: http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=180180&catid=3
Further reading:
- Read Leslie Heaphy’s history of the Atlanta Black Crackers in the 2010 edition of The National Pastime.
Originally published: March 7, 2011. Last Updated: March 7, 2011.