The Zulu Cannibal Giants were an American Negro leaguebaseball team (they referred to themselves as a Baseball "ZuluTribe", based on a concept inspired by the war in Ethiopia), formed in 1934 by Charlie Henry in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Zulu Cannibal Giants gained notoriety for their propensity to turn a baseball game into a comedy performance, much in the same way that the Harlem Globetrotters did with basketball many years later. The Zulu Cannibal Giants decorated their faces and bodies with African tribal paint, went shirtless, wore only grass skirts, used special custom-made baseball bats crafted to supposedly resemble Ethiopian war clubs, and always played barefoot.[1] The players did not use their real names, but rather played under "native" names, as shown in a game lineup from 1935 listing: "Wahoo, right field, Limpopo, first base," among others.[2]
Promoter Syd Pollock's booking agency scheduled games for the Cannibal Giants in 1935.[3] Pollock also managed a similar novelty team called the Indianapolis Clowns (also known as the Cincinnati Clowns, and the Ethiopian Clowns).[4]
Popularly regarded as a Negro league team, they technically were not accepted members of the formal league.
Controversyedit
Although the team was extremely popular with the public, some black athletes disapproved of the Cannibals because of the stereotype.[4] The team, "shows the depths people would go to exploit African-Americans," says author Phil Dixon.[5] A popular player, John "Buck" O'Neil, wrote in his autobiography that, "looking back on it, the idea of playing with the Cannibal Giants was very demeaning".[6]
External linksedit
Charlie the Juggling Clown
Referencesedit
^Lanctot, Neil (2004). Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
^Samuel B. Cohen (July 20, 1935). "Saying of the Spectator". The Journal (Meriden, Connecticut). p. 15. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Serchuk, David (October 14, 2014). "Foul ball: The Zulu Cannibal Giants, Louisville's most disturbing team". InsiderLouisville.com. Insider Louisville. Retrieved June 14, 2017. shows the depths people would go to exploit African-Americans
^Conrads, David; O'neil, Buck (1996). I Was Right. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. ISBN9780684803050.
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zulu, cannibal, giants, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, sep. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Zulu Cannibal Giants news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Zulu Cannibal Giants were an American Negro league baseball team they referred to themselves as a Baseball Zulu Tribe based on a concept inspired by the war in Ethiopia formed in 1934 by Charlie Henry in Louisville Kentucky Zulu Cannibal GiantsInformationLeagueIndependent 1934 1937 LocationLouisville KentuckyEstablished1934Disbanded1937 Contents 1 Background 2 Controversy 3 External links 4 ReferencesBackground editThe Zulu Cannibal Giants gained notoriety for their propensity to turn a baseball game into a comedy performance much in the same way that the Harlem Globetrotters did with basketball many years later The Zulu Cannibal Giants decorated their faces and bodies with African tribal paint went shirtless wore only grass skirts used special custom made baseball bats crafted to supposedly resemble Ethiopian war clubs and always played barefoot 1 The players did not use their real names but rather played under native names as shown in a game lineup from 1935 listing Wahoo right field Limpopo first base among others 2 Promoter Syd Pollock s booking agency scheduled games for the Cannibal Giants in 1935 3 Pollock also managed a similar novelty team called the Indianapolis Clowns also known as the Cincinnati Clowns and the Ethiopian Clowns 4 Popularly regarded as a Negro league team they technically were not accepted members of the formal league Controversy editAlthough the team was extremely popular with the public some black athletes disapproved of the Cannibals because of the stereotype 4 The team shows the depths people would go to exploit African Americans says author Phil Dixon 5 A popular player John Buck O Neil wrote in his autobiography that looking back on it the idea of playing with the Cannibal Giants was very demeaning 6 External links editCharlie the Juggling ClownReferences edit Lanctot Neil 2004 Negro League Baseball The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Press Karmik Thom January 30 2017 King Tut baseballhistorydaily com Wordpress Retrieved June 14 2017 Samuel B Cohen July 20 1935 Saying of the Spectator The Journal Meriden Connecticut p 15 Retrieved February 7 2022 via Newspapers com a b Baseball Serchuk David October 14 2014 Foul ball The Zulu Cannibal Giants Louisville s most disturbing team InsiderLouisville com Insider Louisville Retrieved June 14 2017 shows the depths people would go to exploit African Americans Conrads David O neil Buck 1996 I Was Right New York Simon amp Schuster Paperbacks ISBN 9780684803050 nbsp This article about a baseball team in Kentucky is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article related to sports in Louisville Kentucky is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Negro league baseball team article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zulu Cannibal Giants amp oldid 1212323470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
