Feb. 5, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State All-Sports Museum celebrates Black History Month with a slate of programs.
University Park (January 24) - The Penn State All-Sports Museum celebrates Black History Month by hosting speakers and a film this February. All events will be held in the Clemen's Family Theater in the museum, and are free and open to the public.
On Wednesday, February 6 at 7pm, the museum will host Deryck Toles, former Penn State linebacker and founder of the organization Inspiring Minds.
Toles will talk about his rough childhood, the power of perseverance, overcoming adversity and the impact PSU has on his life. In his time as a student athlete, team captain, a member of the PSU family, Toles found his passion. In 2006, at the age of 25, Toles started Inspiring Minds, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to engage, inspire and empower under-represented youth through education and exposure to life-changing experiences. Every day since, he's devoted his time to proving that anything's possible.
On Saturday, February 16 at 1pm and Sunday February 17 at 1pm, the museum will show the film Soul of The Game, directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan and rated PG-13.
The lives of three of America's greatest baseball players are at the forefront of this poignant story about breaking color barriers within America's favorite pastime. Delroy Lindo, Mykelti Williamson, and Blair Underwood star as legendary African American Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Jackie Robinson.
Finally, on Monday, February 25 at 7pm, the museum will host Commonwealth Speaker and historian Dr. Bob Allen. Dr. Allen will give a lecture entitled The Souls of Black Baseball: Barnstorming the Keystone State*.
Get to know the stories of Octavius Catto, Oscar Charleston, Cum Posey, Gus Greenlee, Eddie Bolden and others who contributed to Pennsylvania's rich black baseball history. Journey across Pennsylvania to discover and appreciate the greatness of teams such as the Pythians, the Hilldale Club of Darby, the Philadelphia Stars, the Harrisburg Giants, the Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Through video interviews and guest appearances by living players, we follow players and teams as they move from little towns and twilight leagues closer to the national spotlight. The Souls of Black Baseball explores how Pennsylvania players contributed to moving the black leagues, and the nation, out of the shadow of the Jim Crow era.
*This presentation is a program of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Anything's Possible
Deryck Toles
Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Time: 7pm-8:30pm
Location: Penn State All-Sports Museum, 1 Beaver Stadium, University Park
Cost: FREE
Film: Soul of the Game
HBO pictures, directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan rated PG-13; 94 minutes; 1996
Dates: Saturday, February 16 & Sunday February 17
Time: 1pm both days
Location: Penn State All-Sports Museum, 1 Beaver Stadium, University Park
Cost: FREE. Includes free popcorn and water.
The Souls of Black Baseball: Barnstorming the Keystone State
A Commonwealth Speakers Presentation with Dr. Bob Allen
Date: Monday, February 25
Time: 7pm
Location: Penn State All-Sports Museum, 1 Beaver Stadium, University Park
Cost: FREE