“The History of Black People Bowling”
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Media Release: Composed by Longtime Member George W. Hayes JR.
“The History of Black People Bowling”
Reintroduction of the National Bowling Association Inc. & The Toledo Bowling Senate.
The Toledo Bowling Senate of The National Bowling Association Inc, is having our Fun and Appreciation Day
When: Sunday August 1, 2021
Where: Miracle Lanes | 5030 Jackman Rd | Toledo, Ohio 43613
Time: 1:00pm until 4:00pm.
Details: You must be a Toledo Bowling Senate member to attend. Bowling and food included. We will also conduct the Toledo Bowling Senate Elections.
About the Organization
Although 80% of our membership is Black, we have no racial restrictions. We encourage everyone to join, bowlers and non-bowlers alike are members.
Our TNBA is comprised of many Senates around the country including Bermuda.
The Toledo Bowling Senate has Adult and Youth bowling leagues.
Toledo is one of the five founding cities of The National Bowling Association Inc. This organization was started because Black bowlers could not bowl in White owned bowling alleys or tournaments. So, the TNBA was formed. It was originally known as the "Negro Bowling Association" because at the time of the birth, Blacks and other non-Caucasians were not permitted to belong to the ABC (American Bowling Congress) or the WIBC (Women’s International Bowling Congress) currently named the USBC, (United States Bowling Congress), because of Caucasian only clauses in their constitutions, which was not taken out until 1950. Although our struggles didn't end there. Many bowling alleys still didn't allow Black people to bowl just because the Caucasian only rule was taken out of their constitution.
Bowling is supposed to be a game of fun for everyone, but some owners just didn't see it that way. In a deep, dark tragic place in Black History, was the not much publicized at the time, the “Orangeburg Massacre".
One White owner of All Star Bowling Triangle lanes in Orangeburg South Carolina still refused Blacks into his bowling alley in 1968. Orangeburg was the home of two mostly Black Universities, South Carolina State and Claflin University.
Many students, Civil Rights leaders and others protested after Blacks were refused entry a few days earlier after water hoses from fire trucks were turned on them. On February 8, 1968, protesters returned, and the Governor called out the National Guard with guns and tanks. Local Police and others were waiting as well. The tragic results, 3 students shot dead, 28 wounded. Over a right just to have fun and bowl. Please Google the "Orangeburg Massacre" Now let's not get this twisted, the Orangeburg Massacre was and still is a very dark and tragic place in our history that's seldom told. As important as the TNBA is, it pales in comparison to the Orangeburg Massacre! I heard that Toledo has a surviving member of that group. If so please reach out to me I would love to sit down and talk to you.
Needless to say, the victims and survivors of the Orangeburg Massacre paid the ultimate price trying to right a tragic wrong, just for Blacks to be awarded freedoms that should have been a given.
I think it's a shame that some people think this is just a game.
You buy that USBC card and never asked, about its history or its past!
You question why I should buy a TNBA card and turn your back and walk away and go inside and bowl anyway!
Although God created us equal, but many others didn't see it that way, it took the sacrifices of others so we could have the freedom of bowling without fear.
To the victims and survivors of the Orangeburg Massacre, I'm sure your struggles and battles over civil rights didn't start or end that day, knowing that you knocked down barriers to provide me and so many others with some freedoms that we now have today. I'm sorry that some of you paid the ultimate sacrifice! God Bless you all.
My Brother Bryan just said a few weeks ago, "You seem to forget about outside struggles once you're inside a bowling alley for a while"!
Respectfully submitted,
George W. Hayes Jr - Toledo Bowling Senate Junior Coordinator/Coach,
Bessie Mack - President of the Toledo Bowling Senate
Press Release Contact Name: George W Hayes Jr
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419 764 1835
Organization Name: Toledo Bowling Sente / The National Bowling Association
Website or Link: http://tnbainc.org/