During the Negro Leagues’ golden age, their biggest stars came to play winter ball in Puerto Rico. In the United States, they experienced racism. On the archipelago, they never felt freer. Host Julio Ricardo Varela tells how Puerto Rico gave Black American ballplayers a dignity their own country denied them and how it paved the way for Roberto Clemente and his enduring legacy.

This episode of American Colony was produced by Alana Schreiber. It was edited by Nuria Net. Translation help from Illan Ireland.

 For archival recordings, special thanks to the Lewis B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Credits

American Colony is a production of The Latino Newsletter and Shake It Easy Media

Original Concept by Julio Ricardo Varela

Senior Editor: Nuria Net
Senior Producer: Joaquín Cotler

Hosts: Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net

Producer: Carlos Berríos Polanco
Consulting Producer: Susanne Ramírez de Arellano

Managing Editor: Christina Hernández

Video Producer: Amalia I. Núñez-Pires

Social Media Videos: Anthony Modesto Milián and Aliana M. Bigio

Illustrator: Ricky Rodriguez
Composer: Alain Emile

Additional music courtesy of Soundstripe

Executive Producers: Julio Ricardo Varela, Nuria Net, and Joaquín Cotler

Support for this program comes from the Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. More at Mellon.org. 

American Colony was also made possible by individual donations. To support the nonprofit work of The Latino Newsletter, click on the Donate tab at The Latino Newsletter.