The Interest Convergence Principle and the Integration of Major League Baseball Academic Article

abstract

• The integration of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1947 has long been considered a triumph in Americas ongoing battle with racism and racial discrimination. An undeniably significant accomplishment, Branch Rickeys signing of Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in 1946 indubitably evokes altruistic feelings of racial progress in America. However, Bells interest convergence principle argues that elite Whites in America will not further the status of Black Americans without receiving equal or greater benefit in return for their so-called altruism. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide readers with a worthwhile and critical new perspective regarding the integration of MLB by analyzing it through the lens of the interest convergence principle.

authors

• Singer, John

published proceedings

• JOURNAL OF BLACK STUDIES

author list (cited authors)

• DeLorme, J., & Singer, J. N.

citation count

• 10

publication date

• November 2010

publisher

• SAGE Publications  Publisher

keywords

• Critical Race Theory
• Integration
• Interest Convergence Principle
• Major League Baseball
• Negro Leagues

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1177/0021934709354456

start page

• 367

end page

• 384

volume

• 41

issue

• 2

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0021934709354456