The month of February is celebrated as Black History Month to pay respect and bring to light the struggles of the black community and its leaders who have struggled hard for the community’s freedom.
The struggles of the black community have also been highlighted in the sports world and in the NBA, the war against racism was spearheaded by Rowland Garrett.
Garrett’s enduring legacy in Canton
Rowland Garrett was born and raised in the town of Canton, Mississippi and made history by becoming the NBA’s first African-American player to appear for three teams in the league in an era that was dominated by members of the white community.
Garrett was an exceptional talent in high school, dominating his peers with ease and leading his team to their first high school championship in their history. Garrett has the town of Canton on his back, all the way from college to his representation in the league. While Rowland Garrett, who was six-foot-six, flourished, he faced issues of his own. The issues weren’t focused on his playstyle or his attributes; rather, they revolved around his skin color.
However, these challenges did not deter Garrett from reaching his true potential. Due to his unique talents, the star got a chance to represent Florida State University, where he once again showed out for the team, leading the team from the front. With Florida State University, he again tasted success, winning the 1972 NCAA championship against UCLA. Awaiting him next were the Chicago Bulls, who chose Garrett with the 78th pick in the draft.
With the Bulls, Garnett took the opportunity to represent his hometown of Canton and even proudly adorned the number 23, a number that eventually passed onto the legendary Michael Jordan, down the line. Standing strong at 73 years old, Rowland Garrett gives his time to the Nichols Middle School basketball team, explaining the game and showing off his skills. His legacy inspires the kids growing up, providing them with a sense of reality that someone from Canton made it to the league.
Rowland overcoming racism in Mississippi
Even though Rowland Garrett faced the brunt of racism in his time in the league, the player did not make much of it and moved on with his life with the goal of representing his town and making a name for himself, an aim he completed successfully.
Garrett recollected the past, saying that the community and the people around him gathered together, establishing a support system that would help them cope with the atrocities that they faced in their everyday lives. Garrett very simply, explained the situation, saying, “We had some racial issues. We had some difficult times, but we found a way to get through those things by sticking together and gathering together.”
Now, Rowland Garrett looks back at his career, proud of the journey he embarked on and unknowingly an inspiration to many. Garrett said, ” “I just focused on playing basketball, and I never thought of it in those terms until later on when I thought about what had taken place and the things I had got awarded for. So, it was a proud moment for me.”
Players like Rowland Garrett shaped the league to where it is today, paving the way for future black athletes in the league.
