Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Breaking the Back of Segregation
July 11, 1948
Participants
James Robertson, Maceo Howard, Morris Kalish, James Gross, Albert Blank, Jeanette Fine, Gloria Stewart, Mary Coffee, Mitzy Freishtat, Irvin Winkler, Stanley Askin, Louis Pinkney, Leonard Collidge, Royal Weaver, Warren Vestal, Marcus Moore, Regina Silverberg, Phillip Ennis, Leroy Matthews, William Carr, Issiah Rows, Delores Jackson, Two Juveniles, Charles Swan.
Created through the efforts of Charles L. Williams
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1945.
Location. 39° 19.107′ N, 76° 38.791′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Druid Hill Park. Marker is on Pimlico Drive, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Baltimore MD 21217, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Playing for Civil Rights (a few steps from this marker); Druid Hill Park (within shouting distance of this marker); A Memorial Rose Garden (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ponds, Springs & Fountains (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wagner (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Mansion House (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Druid Hill Park (approx. ¼ mile away); William Wallace (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Regarding Breaking the Back of Segregation. This marker was erected to commemorate the efforts of the 24 African American and white tennis players who organized integrated matches to challenge the "whites only" policy at the Druid Hill Park tennis courts. Their arrests were challenged in the courts until the US Supreme Court refused to hear the case and let the convictions stand. The "Tennis Court Case" helped lead the way towards the "Brown v. Board of Education" case which finally did strike down the principle of "separate but equal." This marker is on the former site of these tennis courts.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,486 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2008. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 15, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.