TALENT. TENACITY.
TEAMWORK.
African Americans in Sports
In almost any career, Talent, Tenacity and Teamwork can
make the difference between failure and success. They are
the foundation for achievement, and an inspiration for
anyone who wants to achieve.
This year’s Ford Freedom Award program focuses on
these key qualities, while honoring legendary achievers
from the world of basketball who exemplify them.
As it has done each year since 1999, the program honors
one achiever from the present and one from the past.
This year’s achiever from the present is basketball great
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is being honored as the Ford
Freedom Award Scholar.
The achiever from the past is actually a group of
achievers — the New York Rens basketball team, which
made sports history in the 1920s and 1930s as the first allblack professional basketball team owned by African Americans.
To tell the stories of Abdul-Jabbar and the Rens, the Ford Freedom Award program has
collaborated with Michigan K.I.D.S. and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American
History to produce a special Newspaper in Education supplement titled “Talent. Tenacity.
Teamwork. African Americans in Sports.”
This Teacher Guide is designed to extend the lessons of the student NIE supplement and also
to help you introduce the print or electronic newspaper to your students. It contains suggested
activities for using the Detroit Free Press or The Detroit News, as well as several 8½ by 11 inch
activities that you may print out or photocopy for students. It is designed to be used with your
print or electronic newspaper for up to four weeks following delivery of the supplement.
As a special teaching feature, each activity is accompanied by a description of the national
Common Core educational standards it is designed to support.
Educational nonprofit for the
Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News.
UNIT 1
• Use Those Talents
• Career Talents
• Young Talent
• Magical Talent
• Developing Talents
UNIT 2
• Tenacity at Work
• Tenacity and Change
• Overcoming Obstacles
• Wilma’s Tenacity
• Tenacity for Children
UNIT 3
• The New York Rens
• Such Teamwork
• Family Teamwork
• Teams Everywhere
• Be a Coach
UNIT 4
• A Coach’s Character
• Character Counts
• Respect in Sports
• Self-Discipline
• Community Character
TALENT
Talent is essential to achieving success, but not all talent is something people are born with. Talents can be acquired
and developed through practice, hard work and commitment. The activities in Unit 1 examine how people use and
develop talents in sports and other fields, and how students can use and develop their own talents.
1. Use Those Talents *
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was an immensely talented
basketball player, but he also worked hard to
make the most of his talent. From high school on,
he practiced rebounding, did drills to strengthen
his hands and legs and developed the soft shooting touch that made his trademark skyhook so
effective. Ask students to scan the print or electronic newspaper to find a person in sports or
another field who has a special talent or talents.
With the activity sheet “Use Those Talents,” have
them list the talents of their newsmaker and how
they think the person developed or improved
them. Finish by having students list ways they
could develop or improve their own talents.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Producing clear and coherent
writing in which the development, organization and style
are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.
2. Career Talents *
Every career requires special talents. Baseball players need to know how to throw or hit different
kinds of pitches. Doctors need to know how
different parts of the body work. Teachers need
to know how different students learn and how
to get them excited about learning. As a class,
discuss different careers and the talents each
requires. Talk about some talents that students’
family members have and how they use them.
Then ask students to scan the print or electronic
newspaper to find a career that interests them
(remind them to check Help Wanted ads). With
the “Career Talents” activity sheet, have them
brainstorm a list of the talents needed for the
career they selected. Then have them write how
a person could acquire or develop those talents.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Engaging effectively in a
range of collaborative discussions; demonstrating the ability
to write clear and grammatically correct compositions.
3. Young Talent
Athletes often demonstrate great talent at an
early age. Althea Gibson revealed future tennis
talent by winning ping-pong tournaments at
youth recreation centers. Wilma Rudolph was so
good at track in high school that she practiced
with college teams. Many young people demon-
strate talent at an early age in sports, in music,
in art or in different subjects in school. Have
students search the print or electronic newspaper
for a young person demonstrating special talent
in sports, arts or school. Or have them find a talented young person online. Direct them to read
about the person’s talent and achievements. Then
ask them to write the talented young person a
personal letter, encouraging him or her to develop their talent.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Writing opinion pieces on
topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and
information.
4. Magical Talent
Magic Johnson was named Earvin at birth, but by
the time he was in high school his talent for basketball had earned him the nickname “Magic.”
He went on to transform the way the point guard
position was played at Michigan State and in the
NBA. People with great talent often change the
way things are done, or change the way people
think of different activities. Challenge students
to look through the print or electronic newspaper
to find a newsmaker whose talent is changing the
way people think or do things. Or have them find
an example online. Then ask them to write a
paragraph or short essay discussing how this
person is changing the way things are done.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Writing informative or explanatory texts to convey ideas and information clearly.
5. Developing Talents
Mabel Fairbanks had great talent as a figure
skater, but her greatest success came later, as a
coach of other talented skaters. Many people help
develop the talents of others as coaches, teachers,
advisors and mentors. Ask students to find such a
person in the print or electronic newspaper. Have
them write a short description of how the person
helps develop talents in others. Then have them
create an illustration showing this person at work.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Producing clear and coherent
writing in which the development, organization and style are
appropriate to the task, purpose and audience; adding drawings
or visual displays to presentations to enhance the development
of main ideas or points.
*includes activity sheet
USE THOSE TALENTS
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was an immensely talented basketball player, but
he also worked hard to make the most of his talent. From high school on,
he practiced rebounding, did drills to strengthen his hands and legs and
developed the soft shooting touch that made his trademark skyhook so
effective. Scan the print or electronic newspaper to find a person in sports
or another field who has a special talent or talents. In the spaces below, list
the talents of your newsmaker and how you think the person developed or
improved them. Finish by writing out the talents you think you have, and
list ways you could develop or improve your own talents.
Talents of Newsmaker
How He/She Developed Them
Talents You Have
How to Develop Them
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CAREER TALENTS
Every career requires special talents. Baseball players need to know how to throw or hit different kinds of
pitches. Doctors need to know how different parts of the body work. Teachers need to know how different students learn and how to get them excited about learning. As a class, discuss different careers and
the talents each requires. Talk about some talents that people in your family have and how they use them.
Then scan the print or electronic newspaper to find a career that interests you (remember to check the
Help Wanted ads). In the spaces below, write a list of the talents needed for the career you selected. Then
write how a person could acquire or develop those talents. Share ideas as a class and discuss any talents
that are needed for more than one type of career.
Career That Interests Me
Talents Needed for That Career
How to Acquire or Develop Those Talents
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TENACITY
Tenacity is what turns talents into results. Tenacity is the ability to stick with a project. It is also the
intensity with which people tackle problems they face. And it is the way people discipline themselves
to do what they need to succeed. The activities in Unit 2 explore the different ways newsmakers and
members of the community demonstrate tenacity in the ways they approach jobs, careers or problems.
1. Tenacity at Work
Tenacity often means the intensity with which
someone tackles a task. Tough defenders in sports
are often called “tenacious.” So are lawyers who
energetically question witnesses on behalf of
their clients. As a class, talk about different
careers in which tenacity would be an asset. Then
talk about ways tenacity can be an asset in people’s personal lives. At the end of the discussion,
ask students to search the print or electronic
newspaper for a person who demonstrates tenacity in a career or in life. Have them write a paragraph describing this person’s tenacity.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Posing questions that elicit
elaboration and responding to others’ questions and
comments.
2. Tenacity and Change *
Early NFL star Fritz Pollard demonstrated tenacity
both on and off the field. As a class, talk about
how tenacity has been important for people seeking to bring change to society or to provide civil
rights for people of all races. Then direct students
to find a person in the print or electronic newspaper who is working for change in your community, your city or the nation. With the “Tenacity &
Change” activity sheet have them write out what
the person is trying to change, what would be the
result of that change, and how tenacity will be
important to achieving change.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Engaging effectively in a
range of collaborative discussions; producing clear and
coherent writing in which the development, organization
and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.
3. Overcoming Obstacles
Tennis star Althea Gibson learned as a child the
value of tenacity in overcoming obstacles. Her
family was poor when she was growing up, and at
times she considered quitting school. The strength
she gained from those experiences would help her
go on to become “the Jackie Robinson of tennis”
for breaking the color barrier in that sport. With
the print or electronic newspaper, have students
find and read a story about a person who is trying
to overcome an obstacle. Have them then write a
letter to the editor outlining how tenacity is needed to deal with problems of this type.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Writing opinion pieces on
topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and
information.
4. Wilma’s Tenacity
As a child, Wilma Rudolph contracted polio and
was fitted with a brace for her left leg. She was
determined to get out of the brace, though, and
with tenacity and hard work she did, becoming
an Olympic track champion and an inspiration to
others. Have students find a person in the print or
electronic newspaper who inspires other people.
Then challenge them to use what they have
found to draw a comic strip showing how this
person inspires others.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Adding drawings or visual
displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the
development of main ideas or points.
5. Tenacity for Children *
Basketball coach Vivian Stringer had to show
both strength and tenacity when one of her children became disabled as a result of an illness. As
she built college teams into national powers, she
had to be tenaciously vigilant to make sure her
child got the best care. As a class, discuss how
parents are often tenacious when looking to provide the best for their children in school, in sports
and in other opportunities. Challenge students to
use the print or electronic newspaper to find a
story about a parent working to provide well for
a child. Or have them find one online. With the
“Tenacity for Children” activity sheet, have them
think like newspaper reporters and write out
three questions they would like to ask the parent
in an interview. Then have them answer the questions as if they were the parent.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Posing questions that elicit
elaboration and respond to others’ questions and comments;
demonstrating the ability to write clear and grammatically
correct sentences, paragraphs and compositions.
*includes activity sheet
TENACITY AND CHANGE
Early NFL star Fritz Pollard demonstrated tenacity both on and off the field. As a
speedy running back, he tenaciously fought through tacklers to gain extra yardage.
When the NFL banned African Americans from playing, he tenaciously worked to
provide opportunities by starting new teams for African Americans and repeatedly
asking the league to let black athletes back in. As a class talk about how tenacity
has been important for people seeking to bring change to society or to provide civil
rights for people of all races. Then find a person in the print or electronic newspaper
who is working for change in your community, your city or the nation. In the spaces
below, write out what the person is trying to change, what would be the result of
that change, and how tenacity will be important to achieving change.
What the Person Is Trying to Change
What Would Be the Result of That Change
How Tenacity Will Be Important to Achieving Change
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TENACITY
FOR CHILDREN
Basketball coach Vivian Stringer had to show both strength and tenacity
when one of her children became disabled as a result of an illness. As she built
college teams into national powers, she had to be tenaciously vigilant to make
sure her child got the best care. Parents are often tenacious when looking to
provide the best for their children in school, in sports and in other opportunities. Use the print or electronic newspaper to find a story about a parent
working to provide well for a child. Or find one online. Think like a newspaper
reporter and write out three questions you would like to ask the parent if you
could. Then answer the questions as if you were the parent.
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Answer to Question 1
Answer to Question 2
Answer to Question 3
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TEAMWORK
Teamwork enables people to work with others to achieve more than they could alone. It combines the talents of
individuals to serve a greater good. It allows groups to benefit from the ideas and experience of different people.
And it requires working with others, sharing responsibility and putting aside individual goals to work for common
goals. The activities in Unit 3 examine how teamwork is not just a sports concept, but something that benefits people
in all careers and activities.
1. The New York Rens
The New York Rens were one of the great early
teams in professional basketball. But their teamwork was as remarkable as their talent. Hall of
Fame coach John Wooden, who played against the
Rens as a young man, said in all his years in basketball he had “never seen a team play better team
basketball.” As a class, talk about ways teamwork
helps a team in sports. Then discuss how it helps
people outside of sports. Direct students to find an
example of teamwork in sports or another activity
in the print or electronic newspaper. Have them
write a paragraph describing what teamwork
enables people to do that they could not do alone.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Engaging effectively in a range
of collaborative discussions; producing clear and coherent
writing in which the development, organization and style are
appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.
2. Such Teamwork *
NBA star Bill Russell was one of the greatest team
players in the history of sports. In 13 years with the
Boston Celtics, he won 11 NBA titles, including an
incredible eight in a row. Ask students to use the
print or electronic newspaper to find an example
of teamwork helping people achieve success. Then
direct them to use the “Such Teamwork” activity
sheet to list the positive effects of teamwork
demonstrated in the story. Finish by challenging
them to list positive effects not in the story that
could result from teamwork in this situation.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading closely to determine
what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from
it; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to
support conclusions drawn from a text.
3. Family Teamwork *
Jackie Joyner-Kersee and her brother Al Joyner
were two great athletes. Both won gold medals in
the Olympics, and their teamwork as kids put them
on the path to greatness. They trained with each
other, encouraged each other and even competed
with each other to make themselves stronger. Ask
students to read the print or electronic newspaper
for several days to find a story about family mem-
bers helping each other. Or have them find one
online. Then challenge them to think creatively
and use the “Family Teamwork” activity sheet to
write a poem about the ways family members help
each other.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Using precise words and phrases,
relevant descriptive details and sensory language to convey
experiences and events.
4. Teams Everywhere
Boxing is an individual sport, but behind every
boxer is a team that makes him or her successful.
Joe Louis, for example, had a team that offered
advice for dealing with success in an era when
prejudice against African Americans was common.
Everyone can benefit from being part of a team,
and everyone is part of different teams in life.
Some are sports teams, but others include “team”
groups like family, neighborhoods or friends. Ask
students to search the print or electronic newspaper to find a newsmaker who is making news
as an individual. Then challenge them to list the
types of people who team up with the individual
to make him or her successful. Finish by asking
students to list the different “teams” they are part
of, and what kind of support each offers them.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Reading closely to determine
what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences.
5. Be a Coach
As both a player and coach, Lenny Wilkens stressed
teamwork and led by example. He wanted to get
the most out of each player and get them to play
together. Have students search the print or electronic newspaper and find a story about a problem
that could be corrected by people using teamwork.
Challenge them to use what they learn from the
story to design a public service newspaper ad seeking volunteers to work together to solve the problem. Make sure they give their ads eye-catching
headlines to call attention to the problem.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading and comprehending
texts independently and proficiently; using drawings or visual
displays to to enhance the development of main ideas.
*includes activity sheet
SUCH TEAMWORK
NBA star Bill Russell was one of the greatest team players in the history of sports.
In 13 years with the Boston Celtics, he won 11 NBA titles, including an incredible
eight in a row. His Celtics played defense as a team, shared scoring and hustled to
cover for each other’s mistakes. “I was part of a team,” Russell said at the end of
his NBA career. “I dedicated myself to making that team the best.” Use the print
or electronic newspaper to find an example of teamwork helping people achieve
success. Then use the spaces below to list the positive effects of teamwork
demonstrated in the story. Finish by listing positive effects that may not have
been mentioned in the story but could result from teamwork in this situation.
The Story Was About
Positive Effects of Teamwork in the Story
Positive Effects of Teamwork Not in the Story
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FAMILY TEAMWORK
Jackie Joyner-Kersee and her brother Al Joyner were two great athletes. Jackie was a multitalented star in the heptathlon, which requires athletes to be good at seven different events.
Al was a world-class triple-jumper. Both won gold medals in the Olympics, and
their teamwork as kids put them on the path to greatness. They trained with each
other, encouraged each other, and even competed with each other to make themselves stronger. Read the print or electronic newspaper for several days to find a
story about family members helping each other. Or find one online. Then think
creatively and write a poem about the ways family members help each other.
Start each line with one of the letters of the word FAMILY. Poems do not have to
rhyme, but they should include vivid language that conveys ideas and emotions.
Share poems as a class.
F
A
M
I
L
Y
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STRONG CHARACTER
People who have Talent become most successful when they also embrace qualities like Tenacity
and Teamwork. Such qualities, along with such things as courage, self-discipline, responsibility and
respect, are traits that give people strong character. The lessons in Unit 4 explore the importance of
strong character in sports, school and other fields.
1. A Coach’s Character
Tony Dungy became a Super Bowl champion as a
coach because he stressed respect, teamwork and
taking responsibility for your actions. Since leaving coaching he has become a mentor to players
who have made mistakes. People can develop
strong character not only by having positive character traits but by learning from people who have
lacked positive traits. Have students search the
print or electronic newspaper for stories about
people who have made mistakes or not demonstrated positive character traits. Have them write
a paragraph or short essay describing how one
person got into trouble by not having positive
character traits, and what traits would have
helped the person deal with their situation.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Conducting short research
projects that build knowledge about a topic; producing clear
and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task.
2. Character Counts
J.C. Watts showed great tenacity growing up
poor in racially segregated Oklahoma. As a football star at the University of Oklahoma and later
as a U.S. congressman, he also learned the importance of other character traits. “Character” he
said, “is doing the right thing when nobody is
looking.” As a class, talk about the traits students
think they have that give them strong character.
Discuss ways they show those traits “when
nobody is looking.” Then ask them to find someone in the print or electronic newspaper who
demonstrates similar traits to those each student
has. Challenge them to draw an editorial cartoon
commenting on this newsmaker’s character.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Engaging effectively in a
range of collaborative discussions; using drawings or visual
displays to develop main ideas or points.
3. Respect in Sports *
Athletes can earn respect by the way they play,
and by the way they act. As a class, discuss which
pro athletes students respect, and why. With the
“Respect in Sports” activity sheet, ask them to
look through the stories and box scores in the
sports section of the print or electronic newspaper and list three players they respect for their
ability. Then ask them to go through the sports
section and list three players they respect for the
kind of person they are – attitude, personality or
character. (The people may be in one or both
lists.) Next to each, have them write why they
respect him/her as an athlete and/or person.
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Presenting information, findings and supporting evidence in a clear and distinct manner;
engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.
3. Self-Discipline
Along with Tenacity and Teamwork, self-discipline
is an important character trait in sports and other
fields. Direct students to look through the sports
section in today’s print or electronic newspaper to
find an athlete they feel has self-discipline. Have
them write a paragraph describing how this
athlete shows self-discipline and what it gives
him/her as a performer. Then have them look
through the sports section for an athlete they
feel does not show self-discipline. Ask them to
write a paragraph about how this affects him/her
in or out of the arena
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Writing to support claims in
an analysis of substantive topics or texts; demonstrating the
ability to write clear and grammatically correct paragraphs.
4. Community Character
Strong character traits like Tenacity and
Teamwork aren’t just found in sports. Every day
in every community people demonstrate good
character in their actions or ideas. Have students
find an example in today’s print or electronic
newspaper of someone showing good character
in what they are doing or saying. Have them
write a summary of what the person is doing and
why it is good for the community. Finish by challenging students to write out what good character means to them as an individual and what they
think it means for a community as a whole.
COMMON CORE STANDARD: Writing opinion pieces on
topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and
information.
RESPECT IN SPORTS
Baseball stars like Bill White or Frank Robinson earned respect by the way they played. But athletes and
coaches also learn respect by the way they act. As a class, discuss which pro athletes you respect, and why.
Look through the stories and box scores in the sports section of the print or electronic newspaper and list
three players you respect for their ability. Next to each, write why you respect their ability. Then go through
the sports section and list three players you respect for the kind of person they are – attitude, personality or
character. (The people may be in one or both lists.) Next to each, write why you respect him/her as an athlete
and/or person.
Players I Respect for Their Ability
Player
Reason
1
2
3
Players I Respect for the Kind of Person They Are
Player
1
2
3
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Reason