GREEN BAY (WLUK) — A museum exhibit that highlighted the history of black football players in Green Bay is now award-winning.
The Neville Public Museum was presented with the 2019 Wisconsin Historical Society Museum Exhibit Award Tuesday for its “Delay of Game: Experiences of African American Football Players in Titletown” exhibit.
The exhibit, which was open to the public from Aug. 2018 to Mar. 2019, focused on experiences and challenges of African American Packers players throughout the team’s history.
It featured players such as Bob (Robert) Mann, Johnnie Gray, Emlen Tunnell, and Reggie White.
Wisconsin Historical Society director, Christian W. Overland says the exhibit does an excellent job in providing the public with the story of African American players in Green Bay.
“The exhibit embraced difficult history within a predominately white community, exploring current societal issues and the connection to the football area and the football game while providing important historical context as the Packers prepare to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their franchise,” Overland said.
Today, African Americans make up less than 3% of Green Bay’s population and only .09% in 1950 when the first African American started for the Packers.
“Delay of Game” also earned national recognition. It was a 2019 Award of Excellence winner by the Leadership in History awards committee of the American Association for State and Local History.
