Live the Legacy
Celebrating Black Excellence
Buck O'Neil: A Legacy Well-Lived
On December 5, 2021, Edward Waters (Fla.) student-athlete Buck O'Neil was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. O'Neil played in the Negro League from 1937 to 1955 but is best remembered for his role in the creation of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo.
“Once you have been bitten by the Buck Bug, it’s a wrap," stated Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. His charisma, energy and stories live on through the Negro Leagues of Kansas City. I keep him alive in my mind and in my heart – I don’t want anyone to ever forget him – he was one of the most amazing human beings to walk this earth."
Buck said often "You could get further in this life with love rather than you could with hate.” - Buck O’Neil lived the Legacy!
Read Buck's storyNAIA's History of Firsts
- 1948 – Clarence Walker, reserve guard for head coach John Wooden's Indiana State Sycamores, became the first African American to play in a college basketball national championship at any level.
- 1953 – NAIA becomes the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black colleges & universities (HBCUs) into membership.
- 1957 – Tennessee State beat Southeastern Oklahoma 92-73 to become the first historically black college to win a collegiate basketball national championship.
- 1980 – Leroy T. Walker becomes the first African-American to hold the position of NAIA president.
From the NAIA to the pros
Former NAIA student-athletes find success in the big leagues.
July 1, 2021, Dr. Lester Newman, president of Jarvis Christian College, became the new chair for the NAIA's Council of Presidents (COP). Dr. Newman has been the president of Jarvis Christian College, located in Hawkins, Texas, since April 2012 and a member of the COP for five years, as well as the Executive Committee for four years.
FEATURE:
A Message from Florida Memorial
"When I think about the NAIA being the first conference to invite historically black universities to compete in athletics, I want to say kudos to you for your stance. And I want to encourage you to continue to press the issue as we tear down many of the barriers that are still preventing equality ..."
Dr. Jaffus Hardrick, President
The NAIA's HBCU Schools
In 1953, the NAIA became the first collegiate athletics association to invite historically black colleges and universities into membership. Today, 22 of the 105 institutions designated HBCU are members of the NAIA:
- Arkansas Baptist College
- Dillard University (La.)
- Fisk University (Tenn.)
- Florida Memorial University
- Harris-Stowe State University (Mo.)
- Huston-Tillotson University (Texas)
- Jarvis Christian University
- Langston University (Okla.)
- Morris College (S.C.)
- Oakwood University
- Philander Smith College (Ark.)
- Rust College (Miss.)
- Southern University at New Orleans
- Stillman College (Ala.)
- Talladega College (Ala.)
- Texas College
- Tougaloo College (Miss.)
- University of the Virgin Islands
- Voorhees College (S.C.)
- Wilberforce University (Ohio)
- Wiley College (Texas)
- Xavier University of Louisiana
Voice of the Student-Athletes
We asked our student-athletes to tell us about the people that inspired them in life and in athletics.
Tyren Brown, Trinity Christian (Ill.)
Student-Athlete at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Student-Athlete at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Student-Athlete at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Student-Athlete at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Malcolm Randall, Carlow (Pa.)
Keyshawn Keys, Northern New Mexico
Heavyn Jordan, Northern New Mexico
Through the NAIA R.I.S.E. program, the NAIA provides an avenue for NAIA membership to participate in leadership training, provides DEI resources aimed at influencing positive change in the association where all people are valued and provided equal opportunity in all aspects of life.