African-American History in Wyoming: Black 14 and Civil Rights

The Black 14 refers to fourteen African-American University of Wyoming football players. In 1969 the Black 14 were dismissed from the team for showing up at Coach Lloyd Eaton's office wearing black armbands in protest of the racist policies of Brigham Young University. The 14 players went to their coach to ask if they could wear the armbands during the game. Coach Eaton said no, explaining he had a policy against protests. The University of Wyoming played BYU the next day. BYU was owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). The black armbands were a protest against the, then, LDS practice of barring Black men from the priesthood.

Further primary source Black 14 records can be found at the American Heritage Center.

OH 2984 Black 14 Oral History Project - Barrett, James E. -- The Attorney General of Wyoming in 1969

OH 2984 Transcript -- Barrett, James, E.

OH 1813 Black 14 Oral History Project - - Black, Willie -- Chancellor of UW's Black Student Alliance in 1969.

OH 2979 Black 14 Oral History Project - - Collins, Gary -- Tribal Liaison to State of Wyoming

OH 2986 Black 14 Oral History Project - - Griffin, John -- Black 14 Player, Wide Receiver

OH 2983 Black 14 Oral History Project - - Robinson, Michael -- A graduate student in the UW History Department who believed the Black  14 had a right to protest.

OH 2983 Transcript -- Robinson, Michael

1. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 16, 1969 -- UW Blacks Rap BYU Game
2. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 18, 1969 -- Coach Eaton Fires 14 from Grid Team
3. Casper Star Tribune Oct. 18, 1969 -- Black Players Object to BYU
4. The Wyoming Eagle Oct. 18, 1969 -- BYU Game Issue: Negro Players Claim Thrown off UW Team
5. Sunday Tribune-Eagle Oct. 19, 1969 -- UW Senate Condemns Action
6. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 20, 1969 -- Faculty Senate to Probe Firing of UW Athletes
7. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 21, 1969 -- Battle Lines Forming in University Dispute
8. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 21, 1969 -- Eaton Won't Resign
9. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 22, 1969 -- Faculty-Student Airing in UW Tiff Postponed
10. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 23, 1969 -- Eaton to Ease Rule on Player Protest
11. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 23, 1969 -- CSU Blacks Speak Up
12. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 23, 1969 -- BYU Game Protested in El Paso
13. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 23, 1969 -- San Jose Team to Ignore Any Pickett Line
14. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 24, 1969 -- UW Negro Athletes Discuss Court Action
15. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 25, 1969 -- Alumni Make it Plain Backing Eaton
16. Sunday Tribune Eagle Oct. 26, 1969 pg. 1 -- Alumni Day at UW Quiet
17. Wyoming State Tribune Oct. 30, 1969 -- 14 Ousted UW Athletes Seek Court Relief Here
18. Wyoming State Tribune Nov. 8, 1969 -- State Raises Own Rights Claim Against 14 Blacks
19. Wyoming State Tribune Nov. 10, 1969 -- Afternoon Hearing for Petition by 14
20. Wyoming State Tribune Nov. 11, 1969 -- Decision Pending in UW Rights Hearing
21. Wyoming State Tribune Nov. 15, 1969 -- Eaton Racked by NM Blacks
22. Wyoming State Tribune Nov. 17, 1969 -- Blacks Lose First Court Round
23. Wyoming State Tribune Nov. 20, 1969 -- State Seeks Dismissal of Suits by 14 Athletes
24. Wyoming State Tribune Nov. 20, 1969 -- English Instructor Resigning
25. Wyoming State Tribune Jan 12, 1970 -- State Files Affidavits in Black Athletes Suit
26. Wyoming State Tribune May 26, 1970 -- Three UW Athletes Withdrawing from Suit
27. Wyoming State Tribune Sept 17, 1970 -- Issue in Background
28. Wyoming Eagle, Dec. 2, 1970 -- Court of Appeals to Hear Case of 11 Black Athletes in Suit
29. Wyoming State Tribune Jan. 4, 1971 -- 14 Planned Arm Bands in Game
30. Wyoming Eagle  Jan. 5, 1971 -- Black 14 Appeal under Study
31. Wyoming Eagle Jan 13, 1970 -- Black 14
32. Wyoming Eagle Jan. 17, 1970
33. Wyoming Eagle Jan 21, 1970
34. Wyoming Eagle Jan. 30, 1970
35. Laramie Boomerang Oct. 20, 1979 -- A Decade Ago: Dissension, Drama and Decision at Wyoming

• Ibach, Kim and Moore, William Howard. The Emerging Civil Rights Movement: The 1957 Wyoming Public Accommodations Statute as a Case Study. 
• Viner, Kim. "Carrie Burton Overton, First African-American Female Student at UW." Wyohistory.org, 2018.
• White, Phil. "Former University of Wyoming Football Player Mel Hamilton on his Life and the Black 14." wyohistor.org, 2014. 
• White, Phil. "The Black 14: Race, Politics, Religion and Wyoming Football." Wyohistory.org, 2014. 
• Wyoming State Archives Staff. "Dr. Willie Black, Chancellor of the Black Student Alliance in 1969, on the Black 14." Wyohistory.org, 2014.