Illustrated by Chris Ellison
Segregated Charleston, SC, 1955: There are 62 official Little
League programs in South Carolina?all but one of the leagues is
composed entirely of white players. The Cannon Street YMCA
All-Stars, an all-black team, is formed in the hopes of playing in
the state's annual Little League Tournament. What should have been
a time of enjoyment, however, turns sour when all of the other
leagues refuse to play against them and even pull out of the
program. As the only remaining Little League team in the state,
Cannon Street was named state winner by default, giving the boys a
legitimate spot in the Little League Baseball World Series held in
Williamsport, Pennsylvania. While the Cannon Street team is invited
to the game as guests, they are not allowed to participate since
they have not officially "played" and won their state's tournament.
"Let Them Play" takes its name from the chant shouted by the
spectators who attended the World Series final.
Author Margot Theis Raven recounts the inspiring tales of the
Cannon Street All-Stars as they arrived in Williamsport, PA and
never got the chance to play for the title thanks to the bigotry
and ignorance of the South Carolina teams. Ms. Theis' transports
readers back to a sadder time when white little league teams
refused to play against an all-black team. Winning by forfeit, the
Cannon Streeters were subsequently not allowed to participate in
Williamsburg because they had not "played" their way into the
tournament.
"Let Them Play" is an important civil rights story in American
history with an even more important message about equality and
tolerance. It's a tale of humanity against the backdrop of
America's favoritepastime that's sure to please fans of the sport
and mankind. This summer will mark the 50th year since the fans'
shouts of "Let Them Play" fell on deaf ears and 14 boys learned a
cruel lesson in backwards politics and prejudice. This book can
help teach us a new lesson and assure something like this never
happens again.
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