Back When We Were Colored, Helping Black Athletes During Segregation, and Being Helped By Some 'Decent White Men' Along the Way - Paperback

by Virgal Tyrone Woolfolk (Author), Sally Tippett Rains (With)

During segregation in the 1950's and 1960's baseball players like Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson were not welcome at the "white" hotels, so local Black families, like Virgal Tyrone Woolfolk's family in St. Louis would open their homes to welcome the athletes along with famous entertainers who were also traveling for their shows.

Woolfolk's aunt and uncle, Lonnie and Roberta Holly converted their home to a boarding house and his family helped with the endeavor. This book is written from the perspective of one who lived through segregation as a child in rural Missouri to his subsequent success in the Navy, life in California, getting his law degree, and eventually owning his own company.

Woolfolk shares his memories of playing stickball with Willie Mays, being helped by Senator Jack Danforth and even sitting next to The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's father on an airplane. It explores his life during segregation, the impact the boarding house had, and the inspirational story of how his hard work paid off with a successful life.