Crossing the Line: How Larry Doby, Jack Johnson, and the Syracuse Eight Broke the Color Barriers and Demanded Equality in Sports

This dissertation examines how Jack Johnson, Larry Doby, and the Syracuse Eight broke racial barriers in sports. In this dissertation, the lives of several people who broke racial barriers in sports will be examined. First, there is the life and times of Jack Johnson, the first African American heavyweight boxing champion, known for his larger-than-life attitude and his willingness to live his life on his own terms. Then, Larry Doby will be explored. He was the second African American to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball and the first to do so in the American League. Lastly, the protest of the Syracuse Eight will be examined: nine college students who boycotted the 1969 season to make a stand for equality. This work will look at their impact and lives through secondary and primary resources, archival research, and a comparative analysis to frame their activism. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of these figures who did so much, yet are often overlooked.