Due to the recent fiftieth anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s historical breaking of the color-line in professional baseball, there has been an increased interest in black baseball and the Negro Leagues. As a result, there are many more books and films available to the public than could have been found as recently as five years ago. I have listed only those which I have used and found to have particular relevance to the topic. Others have been omitted because they mostly duplicated material appearing in those I have listed. I would predict that more fictional works, such a The Bat Boy and His Violin, will be available in the near future. I believe that all of the books I mention could be used in some manner with any grade level, though some are obviously too long or too difficult for younger children to handle independently.
The films which I have included vary greatly both in quality and content. If shown in their entirety, some are not suitable for young students. The variety of documentary and historical fiction included in my list provides an opportunity for the teacher to sharpen pupil ability to evaluate the accuracy and intention of various films.