Five Unsung African-American Sports Pioneers

Seeing African-Americans in mainstream sports is nothing unusual nowadays, but this was not always the case. For many years, sports, like many other things, was racially segregated and African-Americans were even thought to be physically "inferior."

Somebody had to be the "first" to break the color barrier in various fields of major sports. Here are five such individuals who paid the price that opened the way for other African-American athletes:

Fritz Pollard

"Fritz" Pollard was born Frederick Douglas Pollard in Rogers Park, Illinois on January 27, 1894. A skilled football player, he attended Brown University, after winning a Rockefeller Scholarship, and was the first African-American to play in the prestigious Rose Bowl in 1916. Pollard also excelled in track-and-field.. He continued to be a pioneer in 1922, when he became the first African-American NFL coach. Pollard later became a successful businessman. He died on May 11, 1986. It took the Football Hall of Fame until 2005 to induct him into it, posthumously..

Paul Robeson

The magnificent Paul Robeson is chiefly remembered for his acting and singing, but not many know that he was a gifted athlete, as well. Born Paul Leroy Robinson in 1898 , he earned a scholarship to Rutgers University in 1915, where he excelled in several sports, including football, track-and-field and baseball. He was so good that he became the first African-American to be chosen as an All-American. Despite earning 12 letters, Robeson had to deal with racism, which was still prevalent during those days, and when Rutgers played against a Virginia university's football team, he was prohibited from playing, a disgrace he never forgot. Robeson was a brilliant student, as well, and had gotten an academic scholarship to the university, from which he eventually graduated as valedictorian. He went on to become a star of stage, screen and concert halls . He also became a very controversial social activist. He died in 1976, after a long period of ill health.

Harry "Bucky" Lew