Art. by Ricky Rodriguez
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.
En la época dorada de las Negro Leagues, sus grandes estrellas venían a Puerto Rico a jugar durante el invierno. En Estados Unidos, vivían el racismo. En el archipiélago, nunca se sintieron más libres. Julio Ricardo Varela cuenta cómo Puerto Rico les dio a los peloteros afroamericanos una dignidad que su propio país les negaba, abriendo el camino a Roberto Clemente y a su eterno legado.
Alana Schreiber produjo este episodio de American Colony. Nuria Net lo editó. Illan Ireland ayudó con la traducción.
Por las grabaciones de archivo, un agradecimiento especial al Louis B. Nunn Center for Oral History de la Universidad de Kentucky.
About the Producer
Alana Schreiber is a radio producer based in New Orleans, where she manages the daily news show Louisiana Considered. She is a passionate baseball fan who created and produced the 2024 Major League Baseball and NPR podcast, Road to Rickwood, that explored the intersection of the Civil Rights Movement and Negro Leagues Baseball. She's excited to dive into Negro Leagues history once again in American Colony. When she's not producing podcast you can catch her training for marathons, oil painting, playing ultimate frisbee, and cheering for her lovable losers, the New York Mets.
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
Episode Producers: T.J. Raphael; Alana Schreiber; Raquel Reichard with Diosa Femme and Mala Muñoz from Locatora Radio; Juan Diego Ramírez; Camille Padilla Dalmau, Frances Medina, and 9 millones; Joaquín Cotler; and Amalia Núñez-Pires
Managing Editor: Christina Hernández
Video Producer: Amalia Nuñez-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.
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