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Texas Western - Black Basketball Pioneers

How an all-black college team broke down the colour barrier in American basketball.

In 1966, an all-black team went head-to-head with an all-white team for the National College Basketball championship - one of the biggest prizes in American sport. To the surprise of every pundit, the African-Americans of Texas Western College defeated the University of Kentucky, then the number one team in the country. The game is now regarded as breaking down the colour barrier in US basketball. Nija Dalal-Small talks to Nevil Shed of Texas Western. The programme is a Sparklab Production for BBC World Service.

PHOTO: Texas Western celebrate their victory in 1966 (Getty Images)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Wed 14 Dec 201602:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 12 Dec 201605:50GMT
  • Tue 13 Dec 201609:50GMT
  • Tue 13 Dec 201612:50GMT
  • Tue 13 Dec 201623:50GMT
  • Wed 14 Dec 201602:50GMT

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