Author Talk: Wayne Dawkins

Author Talk: Wayne Dawkins
When: Thursday, February 27, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Where: Adams County Library
Join award-winning author, journalist, and college professor Wayne Dawkins for
an insightful discussion on his latest book, Sam Lacy and Wendell Smith: The
Dynamic Duo that Desegregated American Sports. This compelling double
biography explores the lives of two pioneering journalists who played a crucial
role in breaking racial barriers in American sports—helping to shape the games,
the media, and the culture we know today. Dawkins will also discuss the broader
impact of Black trailblazers across industries, sharing perspectives from his
extensive research and storytelling.
As Mark Whitaker, author of Smoketown: The Untold Story of the Other Great
Black Renaissance and Saying It Loud: 1966-The Year Black Power Challenged
the Civil Rights Movement notes:
“;With meticulous research and lucid prose, Wayne Dawkins has given us a well-
deserved tribute to Sam Lacy and Wendell Smith. It’s also an ode to the golden
era of Black newspapers and Negro League baseball, and a testament to
everything that was gained and lost with the integration of American sports and
media.”
This event is for anyone who loves sports, history, journalism, or stories of
resilience and progress. Whether you’re a lifelong learner, a fan of great
storytelling, or simply curious about the forces that shaped modern American
culture, you’ll find inspiration in this conversation.
Presented in collaboration with Patricia Green Rodgers of Stone of Scone
Farm and The Patricia Green Group, this event is part of Green’s commitment
to bring diverse and thought-provoking Black authors to Gettysburg.
Come for the history. Stay for the conversation. Leave with a deeper
understanding of how two Black sports journalists advocated for the inclusion of
Black players in the major leagues, changed the narrative on how Black athletes
were represented in sports writing, and left a legacy for their pioneering efforts.
To register, visit: https://www.adamslibrary.org/event/author-talk-wayne-dawkins-
61789