Martha's Vineyard Basketball

How a Resort League Defied Notions of Race and Class

Year round on Martha’s Vineyard Island, residents and vacationers have played basketball—almost since the game was invented in Massachusetts by Dr. James Naismith. President Obama, former NFL linebacker Willie McGinest, and Family Matters sitcom star Jaleel White (a.k.a. “Steve Urkel”) all played basketball on Martha’s Vineyard, as did future college stars, authors, war heroes, and entrepreneurs. Their stories touch current events from World War I through the Civil Rights Movement—and even includes the filming of the blockbuster Jaws. Bijan C. Bayne includes historical background on Martha’s Vineyard and describes the distinctions between its residents and vacationers, who ranged from the poorest in the state to the very wealthy. Original interviews with those who were there tell the stories in a fresh light, giving personal reflections on the racial dynamics of the time. As teens gathered to play on the outdoor basketball courts, they did more than compete in a game—they developed lasting friendships among a wonderful diversity of social classes and races.