At the 1920 Summer Olympic Games, Dubuque German College (now the University of Dubuque) alum Solomon Butler competed in broad jump as one of three African Americans to qualify for the U.S. team.
A man of many talents, his life is chronicled in the new book, Sol Butler: An Olympian’s Odyssey through Jim Crow America, written by University of Dubuque professor Brian Hallstoos.
Hallstoos joins to talk about Butler's upbringing as the son of a former slave and Union soldier, a multi-sport athlete, actor, coach and entrepreneur. The book explores how Butler stayed active in sports well into adulthood and how he used his platform to mentor young athletes, advocate for women’s basketball and communicate across racial lines at a time when that skill was essential. Hallstoos is having an author talk on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids, as well as a book signing and talk on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 1-3 p.m. at the Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success in Cedar Rapids.
Later, we examine the legacy of the Iowa Bystander, widely considered the oldest Black newspaper west of the Mississippi. Under the leadership of James B. Morris Sr., the paper became a crusader for equal opportunity, chronicling African American life and achievement at a time when mainstream newspapers largely ignored those stories. Author and educator William S. Morris reflects on the publication’s lasting impact and its role in preserving Black history in Iowa.
Guests:
- Brian Hallstoos, author and professor of history, University of Dubuque
- William S. Morris, author and educator
