© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Integration of the NFL; America’s Best Idea: The National Parks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park

According to a recent Harris Poll, this year marks the 30th year in a row that professional football has been the most popular sport in America. Throughout those years, African-Americans have made great strides in the game, and today, nearly 70% of the sport’s players are black. African-Americans have reached all levels of the game from head coaches to quarterbacks to referees. There was a time, though, when black players were banned from football - a practice that went on for years - until the Cleveland Browns and Coach Paul Brown took the field. On view right now at the Massillon Museum in Massillon, Ohio is the exhibit Paul Brown and Racial Integration in Ohio Football. It celebrates the seventieth anniversary of the reintegration of the NFL during the 1946 season when the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams signed African-American players to their teams.

2016 marks the 100th anniversary of what’s been dubbed "America’s Best Idea," the establishment of the National Park Service. In Ohio, the Park Service is represented by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Although the CVNP hasn’t reached its century mark, it's celebrating the National anniversary with a series of centennial events.

Leading-up to the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service on August 25, we recently aired on WVIZ-PBS the six-part documentary, The National Parks: Americas Best Idea, produced by filmmaker Ken Burns. See what you may have missed, with some behind-the-scenes moments with Ken Burns and his production team talking about how they put the film together.

Heather Haden, Curator, Massillon Museum

Joe Horrigan, Chief Communications Officer, Pro Football Hall of Fame

Deb Yandala, CEO, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Deb’s Top 10 Things to do at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

∙ Experience the Park’s trails

∙ Ride the train

∙ Enjoy a concert

∙ Visit the Farmer’s Market

∙ Count wildlife and plants at the Bio Blitz

∙ Attend “Celebrate 100” in August

∙ Grab a picnic lunch from Trail Mix

∙ Get kids involved with Junior Rangers and other activities

∙ See waterfalls and the Cuyahoga River

∙ Enjoy the Cleveland Orchestra & Hale Farm and Village