Crispus Attucks

NARRATOR 1: This Indiana Bicentennial Minute is made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg Devault.

Black and white film footage shows men playing basketball, followed by images of players holding championship trophies.

JANE PAULEY: Indiana’s had high school basketball champion teams for 105 years but none made a bigger social impact than the Cripus Attucks champs of 1955.

Images and videos of a brick school, basketball players on and off the court, and fans cheering appear on screen.

JANE PAULEY: Attucks was Indianapolis’ all black high school, opened in 1927 but not allowed to compete against white schools until 1942. In ’55, led by Oscar Robertson, the tigers won the state title, repeated the next year, and won it again in 1959. A justice department suit ended school segregation here though Indianapolis Star columnist, Bob Collins, wrote “The success of Attucks basketball integrated the high schools of Indianapolis”. Crispus Attucks student athletes had made their mark on history.

Text on the screen reads visit indianahistory.org for more information, with an image of cheerleaders cheering in the background.

JANE PAULEY: I’m Jane Pauley with this Indiana Bicentennial Minute.

NARRATOR: made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg Devault.