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)
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Mon 12 Dec 201605:50GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 13 Dec 201609:50GMTBBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean & News Internet
- Tue 13 Dec 201612:50GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 13 Dec 201623:50GMTBBC World Service except Americas and the Caribbean & News Internet
- Wed 14 Dec 201602:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia
Podcast
![]()
Sporting Witness
Personal stories of amazing moments from sporting history told by people who were there



