African American pool pros

[book collector]

African American Pool Players

I have seen some pictures of black players from some time in the early 1900s in New York that had their own league, similar to the baseball players , If anyone has any info or photos I am very interested.

 

[bobco729]

I would like to put another great champion's name up here that i befriended in the late 60's early 70's who i thought had the greatest stroke i have ever seen.....Marvin Henderson......
"country" Bob

 

[bobco729]

Very Informative post

Independent Event

Andy Hudson
Andy Hudson Passes Away at 86 - An Icon Pool Player from Colorado

Andrew K. Hudson was the first of five children born to Dennis Leroy and Alice Payne Hudson in Denver, CO on October 2, 1920. Andrew married his high school sweetheart Electra in 1938. Andy was known as the “golden boy” of Colorado as described by John Rayburn, former Channel 9 news commentator, when it came time to play a game of 9-ball, Andy was a pool shark! Those who knew Andy knew of this passion. He began teaching pocket billiards in 1974 at the Physical Education Department of Metro State College. With this position, he innovated the game of pool for many students opening up the game to woman, which used to be a man’s game. He also introduced and instructed pocket billiards to players at the Family Fun Center, and introduced the game as a family sport. Andy was a member of the Commerce City Recreation Center. He always took first place in pocket billiards at the Colorado Senior Games. Andy was also an avid golfer and bowler.

Andy was passionate about many community causes and would give his time to help in anyway he could. He was a Teachers Assistant for Reading at the 24th Street School. He was his Swinging 30’s Class Treasurer. Andy was a member of the Park Hill Leisure Club. As a devout Catholic, he was a dedicated member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church, devoted to assisting his brothers and sisters in Christ, ready to give spiritual guidance when needed. He loved the Lord. Andy was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, a good neighbor, and an all around great human being. He was an avid reader. He was a polished gentleman and was much loved by our community. Andy had “never met a stranger.”

In April of 1988 in the Colorado Billiards News, Jonesy wrote:
In the last month I had the privilege to interview one of Colorado’s top players. For over, four decades, the name “Andy Hudson” has struck fear in the heart of pool players all over America. Born in Denver 67 years ago, and Andy has been playing pool for over 50 years and is nothing short of a true gentleman. He is also one of the nicest people you could ever meet and one of the most knowledgeable players I have ever seen play. Denver should be proud to say that Andy is a “home grown son.” Thanks Andy, for all the thrills….Your a true champ.

Andy’s favorite game was one-pocket, his favorite place to play was The Family Fun Center, he practiced three hours a day – five days a week, he played pool with a hustler cue, and was asked in this interview what is the biggest mistake that amateurs make playing pool? Andy’s answer: “They don’t keep their eye on the object ball”- you can take that advice to the bank!

For some of you players that did not get the honor to meet Andy- stop by Hank’s Billiards (formally know as Paradise Billiards or The Family Fun Center) and ask any of the veterans and they will only have great stories of Andy Hudson. When I was 24 years old I was blessed to play Andy everyday at the same time at the same place “The Family Fun Center.” I have to say I learned a lot from playing Andy- I would miss him dearly. He was an ICON to pool and Colorado! God bless Andy!

By Melissa Little - 2007-10-25

Nice post, he did stand alone in the pool room, like Minnesota Fats yet quiet. Always dressed as a gentleman, and was a Gentle Man. People like him are the seed for great rooms, and if your lucky enough to have a man like this in you life, your a better person and pool rooms are a tough place to grow up, similar to Willie Munson, kind/giving man.

This is a very touching post about the beloved Andy Hudson. r,i,p,
"country" Bob

 

[poolplayer2093]

This is a great topic... I think its worth doing some reasearch and writing an article.

Like womens golf having an Asian influence that pretty much has taken over the top 5 rankings, there are no, or very few Afro-American women that play in that tour.

Is Billiards primarily a white american, white Euro, and Asian sport? I will see what I can find.

Argonath

african americans only make up about 12-15% of the U.S.'s population. that's probably why you see fewer african american pool players.

 

[JAM]

african americans only make up about 12-15% of the U.S.'s population. that's probably why you see fewer african american pool players.

Before 1968, there were so many segregated pool rooms still in existence, sad to say. Some pool rooms may not have been labeled as "white only" or "black only," but they were around.

Cicero Murphy wasn't allowed to compete in the world championships until after the Martin Luther King assassination when civil rights action effected a change for the better in society.

Check out this picture I copy-and-pasted from Google images. It speaks volumes about pre-1968 American pool. :frown:

 

[JAM]

...Another was Edgar "Shake and Bake" White. I can remember congratulating him on a big tournament win in 9 Ball but I don't know which one. He couldn't get a game even up from anyone for a brief period after that win IIRC....

The following is a copy-and-paste of a post I made about Edgar White a few years ago, but I want it to be in this thread.

I found the article I was looking for about Edgar White a/k/a "Shake and Bake," which appeared in the January 1981 edition of The National Billiard News. Here's some interesting tidbits from the article:

"Shake and Bake" proved to be no chicken when it came to 9-ball. Wearing a short-sleeved blue knit shirt with dark blue letters spelling out the phrase "Shake 'n Bake" emblazoned above the pocket, Edgar White of Detroit walked away with the biggest prize in the second annual World 9-ball Pro-Am last week.

The affable White, sporting a goatee and a smile seemingly as wide as the expanse of the Grand Canyon, defeated "Little Al" Romero of Torrance, California, for $15,500...held at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.

"A friend of mine, he's deceased now, gave me that nickname about 15 years ago, and it stuck...I was in Arlington, Virginia, in a money game, and I couldn't make a ball. My friend jumped up and yelled out, 'C'mon, shake and bake.' It got me back in stroke, and I ended up winning."

He was machine-like in his precision as he roared back from a 3-0 first set deficit to defeat Romero. White was eight balls from losing the first set, and then performed a complete reversal to capture eight succsesive games and the championship. "I played very, very steady. I played the best I've ever played," White said candidly following the match. "Every time I needed to get out, I got out. Do you know that Al was a 5-1 favorite?," White asked, referring to the betting odds prior to the start of the finals.

There are times in any sporting event that it seems one player has an aura around him that identifies him early on as a winner. Edgar became the audience favorite as he very deftly carved his way through a tournament which saw the likes of players Louis Roberts, Richie Ambrose, Mike Massey, Ed Kelly, Al Romero, Lou Butera, Ronnie Allen, Larry Hubbart, Jim Rempe, Dan Louie, Jimmy Reid, and Mike Sigel. With an infecuous smile and an adominatable spirit, Edgar seemed to be walking two feet off the floor through the three-day event which began on December 1, 1980.

Shake and Bake made the front cover of The National Billiard News, as depicted below.

 

[JAM]

Here's another unsung hero in American pool who went by the name of "John Henry." I'm not sure if that's his real name, but that's what I always called him. :grin-square:

John Henry was a road man back in the day, and he came to the D.C. area and would visit the local pool rooms, of which there used to be many that had action. John knew how to match up and grind. When all else failed, he's entertain you with his shell game, hiding a bean underneath one of the three shells and challenging all comers to see if they could figure out which shell the bean was under. :wink:

I remember John Henry well, and I know he'd remember me if we ever cross paths again. We used to laugh the night away in the pool room during my graveyard shift. He was cool and knew how to get action wherever he went. :yes:

Here's John Henry depicted on the right, with Seattle Sam on the left. That's a younger me in the middle when I used to have a thick mane of hair.

 

[poolplayer2093]

Before 1968, there were so many segregated pool rooms still in existence, sad to say. Some pool rooms may not have been labeled as "white only" or "black only," but they were around.

Cicero Murphy wasn't allowed to compete in the world championships until after the Martin Luther King assassination when civil rights action effected a change for the better in society.

Check out this picture I copy-and-pasted from Google images. It speaks volumes about pre-1968 American pool. :frown:

Is that white bread on the colored only pool hall window!!!!LOL

yeah things weren't as racially tolerant then as they are these days. think of all the missed action caused by segregation! it's criminal:wink:

 

[JAM]

Anybody who ever came to D.C. knew about Strawberry. He was our local one-pocket phenom, and make no mistake about it, the man could torture anyone on a field of green. I grew up admiring Strawberry and saw him in action quite a few times.

Strawberry is the man who created the Capital City Classic one-pocket tournament, a D.C. annual event that later was promoted by the Wilson family.

The slogan that OnePocket-dot-org shares with pool lovers around the world, "One pocket, it's an epidemic, and there ain't no cure," came from Strawberry Brooks.

A year or so before Strawberry passed away, he came to a local weekend tournament at Fast Eddie's in Alexandria, VA. He immediately came over and sat next to me on the rail, which was a thrill.

I remember his outfit matched his 7-ball-red Cadillac parked out in the lot. Strawberry always traveled in style and knew how to enjoy life to the fullest. Though we talked about pool that night, our conversation drifted off into religion. Strawberry found peace with his higher power.

Here's a picture I took that night. RIP, Strawberry. You are missed and not forgotten!

 

[Scaramouche]

Everyone forgetting Raj Hundal?

Raj is of Asian descent (Punjab), born in London, England

http://www.rajhundal.com/

Started out playing snooker on a 6 foot table (for all the snooker purists in the crowd)

 

[JAM]

Is that white bread on the colored only pool hall window!!!!LOL

yeah things weren't as racially tolerant then as they are these days. think of all the missed action caused by segregation! it's criminal:wink:

BTW, I did not realize that TXPoolnut posted this photo and a few others GREAT ones earlier in this thread. Check 'em out. They are vintage photos of an era gone by. It is not good that there was segregation, but it is good to not forget how this affected our country at the time.

It is hard to believe in the year 2010 that this kind of activity even existed. I remember the Martin Luther King riots in D.C. after he was assassinated. There was looting everywhere downtown, and the police couldn't control it.

I was in junior high school at the time. Young and dumb, we all piled in a car and drove downtown wanting to see the looting. Everybody had their headlights on showing respect for Martin Luther King. It is something that I will never forget as long as I live.

In 1968, James Brown was one of my faves. We all used to dance to Motown, and James Brown was "the" King, of course. :grin-square:

Here's a rare video of James Brown at Boston Gardens, the day after King was murdered. James was trying to bring peace to the country, shaking hands with the white mayor of Boston in an effort to unite Americans: James Brown at Boston Gardens.

Well, during all the rioting, James Brown came to D.C. and made a speech at the U.S. Capitol building. There was a huge crowd that gathered for this. I didn't go in person, but I saw it on TV. He pointed out to the city and referenced the looting and said, "This isn't black power." Then he pointed to his head, meaning use your brain, and said, "This is black power." At the time, it was pretty meaningful.

Then he sang, "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud." Man, it brought the house down. Everybody was dancing in the streets. :grin-square:

Thinking about James Brown, I get happy feet. Here's my man, James Brown, singing it loud: Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud.

 

[poolplayer2093]

BTW, I did not realize that TXPoolnut posted this photo and a few others GREAT ones earlier in this thread. Check 'em out. They are vintage photos of an era gone by. It is not good that there was segregation, but it is good to not forget how this affected our country at the time.

It is hard to believe in the year 2010 that this kind of activity even existed. I remember the Martin Luther King riots in D.C. after he was assassinated. There was looting everywhere downtown, and the police couldn't control it.

I was in junior high school at the time. Young and dumb, we all piled in a car and drove downtown wanting to see the looting. Everybody had their headlights on showing respect for Martin Luther King. It is something that I will never forget as long as I live.

In 1968, James Brown was one of my faves. We all used to dance to Motown, and James Brown was "the" King, of course. :grin-square:

Here's a rare video of James Brown at Boston Gardens, the day after King was murdered. James was trying to bring peace to the country, shaking hands with the white mayor of Boston in an effort to unite Americans: James Brown at Boston Gardens.

Well, during all the rioting, James Brown came to D.C. and made a speech at the U.S. Capitol building. There was a huge crowd that gathered for this. I didn't go in person, but I saw it on TV. He pointed out to the city and referenced the looting and said, "This isn't black power." Then he pointed to his head, meaning use your brain, and said, "This is black power." At the time, it was pretty meaningful.

Then he sang, "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud." Man, it brought the house down. Everybody was dancing in the streets. :grin-square:

Thinking about James Brown, I get happy feet. Here's my man, James Brown, singing it loud: Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud.

nothing shows respect like picking up a new tv!

 

[ShootingArts]

Thanks JAM!

JAM,

Great stories and pictures as always! You and Terry Ardeno are worth your weights in gold to the forum just for the pool history you have documented without considering your other assets. (Make that both worth Terry's weight, I want to be fair about this. :grin: )

Hu

 

[seether]

met one

I played with a black person last night on Saturday and he is cool,and a good shot,and i enjoyed playin pool with this person.they are good pool players

 

[poolplayer2093]

I played with a black person last night on Saturday and he is cool,and a good shot,and i enjoyed playin pool with this person.they are good pool players

score! now if you could go play with a mexican so we'll know if they're cool too, we'll be set!!!!!!!!

i can't believe all these years i thought they were strange and scary! i can't wait to meet a black now!!!!

 

[bobco729]

Guy's and Dolls in Silver Hill Md.

Here's another unsung hero in American pool who went by the name of "John Henry." I'm not sure if that's his real name, but that's what I always called him. :grin-square:

John Henry was a road man back in the day, and he came to the D.C. area and would visit the local pool rooms, of which there used to be many that had action. John knew how to match up and grind. When all else failed, he's entertain you with his shell game, hiding a bean underneath one of the three shells and challenging all comers to see if they could figure out which shell the bean was under. :wink:

I remember John Henry well, and I know he'd remember me if we ever cross paths again. We used to laugh the night away in the pool room during my graveyard shift. He was cool and knew how to get action wherever he went. :yes:

Here's John Henry depicted on the right, with Seattle Sam on the left. That's a younger me in the middle when I used to have a thick mane of hair.

I remember John Henry, Nate, Strawberry, Bus Driver, Jackie Robinson, Black Buck,Fats, light skin Tony, Marvin Henderson, Bags, Lefty Joe, Joe Mason, piccadilly slim etc. from Guy's and Dolls 60s-70s Eddie Taylor, Wimpy, Weenie Beanie were there at that time also. I'm still here but G.& D. is a funeral parlor now. There were so many shootings in there it's just irony.
"country" Bob

 

[ccshrimper]

Back around '91 I saw a tall black man spotting John McCarthey(sp?) in Pockets, Shreveport La in one-pocket. I could have sworn they said his name was bugeyes but it could have been bugs. Just wondering if this was the same guy I saw. He had a staker from California I think, white guy with a lot of cash on him(at least 20k).

 

[kevpull]

Jb

BTW, I did not realize that TXPoolnut posted this photo and a few others GREAT ones earlier in this thread. Check 'em out. They are vintage photos of an era gone by. It is not good that there was segregation, but it is good to not forget how this affected our country at the time.

It is hard to believe in the year 2010 that this kind of activity even existed. I remember the Martin Luther King riots in D.C. after he was assassinated. There was looting everywhere downtown, and the police couldn't control it.

I was in junior high school at the time. Young and dumb, we all piled in a car and drove downtown wanting to see the looting. Everybody had their headlights on showing respect for Martin Luther King. It is something that I will never forget as long as I live.

In 1968, James Brown was one of my faves. We all used to dance to Motown, and James Brown was "the" King, of course. :grin-square:

Here's a rare video of James Brown at Boston Gardens, the day after King was murdered. James was trying to bring peace to the country, shaking hands with the white mayor of Boston in an effort to unite Americans: James Brown at Boston Gardens.

Well, during all the rioting, James Brown came to D.C. and made a speech at the U.S. Capitol building. There was a huge crowd that gathered for this. I didn't go in person, but I saw it on TV. He pointed out to the city and referenced the looting and said, "This isn't black power." Then he pointed to his head, meaning use your brain, and said, "This is black power." At the time, it was pretty meaningful.

Then he sang, "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud." Man, it brought the house down. Everybody was dancing in the streets. :grin-square:

Thinking about James Brown, I get happy feet. Here's my man, James Brown, singing it loud: Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud.

Jam, no one and I mean NO ONE on this planet could dance like James Brown. There is a whole generation that has never witnessed what a dancing machine he was... Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2gEAvOW2nc

 

[JAM]

Jam, no one and I mean NO ONE on this planet could dance like James Brown. There is a whole generation that has never witnessed what a dancing machine he was... Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2gEAvOW2nc

Oh, man, did I ever enjoy that video clip, Kevpull. That is the bomb!

Even Michael Jackson said he got a lot of his moves from James Brown. You can see a lot of James in Michael's routines for sure.

We grew up watching James Brown in the middle '60s. When I was a teenager, a group of us used to study his moves and then practice all week with our own routines. Then we'd go to the CYA or school dances on the weekends. We were really good. People used to stop dancing and circle us while we were dancing to our routines.

I'm talking the mashed potato, tighten up, four corners, the jerk, the alligator, the split, the monkey, the horse. You name it, we knew how to do it. We had James Brown's moves down pat, too. We would win dance contests. Those were the days of hot pants and go-go boots.

To make this pool oriented, me and my other half were attending a pool tournament one weekend, and inside the pool hall, they had a dance floor. The music was pretty loud. Pool and music don't mix very well, and so I figure, hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

So me and mine got out there on the dance floor. I broke out my James Brown moves. You should have seen the eyeballs darting my way. Even my other half couldn't believe his eyes, seeing this 50-year-old-plus dancing like James Brown. It was pretty funny, and I enjoyed every minute of it. :thumbup:

 

[Masirib5]

Oh yeah, what about New York Blackie?? Oh wait, let me check something..........