By Garry Blanson
Today known as Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
If you were to ask most Black College football fans in Monroe, Louisiana if they were fimilar with The “S.W.A.C. Sports Conference,” many of them will say that they have heard of it. However, if you were to ask them what’s the “OLDEST BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS CONFERENCE IN AMERICA,” few of them would know the name of the conference! Well, to be honest, I just recently found out myself. During my visit to a book fair in Monroe, Louisiana,I found and purchased a book titled, “The Young Negro in America 1960 – 1980” that use to be the property of the Library at the old Richwood High School, written by a Black Man by the name of Samuel D. Proctor. The book led me to what I found out is actually the “OLDEST BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS CONFERENCE IN THE UNITED STATES!” The name of the conference is ” THE CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.”
Up until 1950, it was known as the “COLORED INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.” The conference was founded on the campus of “Booker T. Washington’s Alma Mater, Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, which is now Hampton University, in 1912.” The Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association was originally formed to organize and facilitate athletic competitions between Colored Colleges and Universities.
Some of the original Colored Universities included Howard University, Hampton Institute, Lincoln University, Virginia Union University, and Shaw University. Many of the Colored Universities offered Colored Student-athletes the opportunity to compete in football and basketball as well as baseball. As a matter of fact, “many of the baseball players went on to play in the famous Negro Baseball League!” Today, the conference is composed of 12 Historically Black Colleges and Universities spanning the East Coast, from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. Interestingly, the conference plays host to 14 annual Championships.
“Additionally, the conference is nationally known for its annual CIAA Basketball Tournament, which is held in late February and early March.”
Furthermore, the Central Intercollegiate is affiliated with the NCAA at the Division ll Level, whose member institutions have nothing but Historically Black Colleges and Universities. By the way, its current conference members include Shaw University, Lincoln University, Virginia Union University, Bowie State University, and Bluefield State University, along with several other Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
In closing, based on the past history and success of Colored, Negro, and Black Interscholastic & Intercollegiate Athletic Associations, “the African-Americans of the 21st Century may just want to see about starting our Own Athletic Associations, just as Our Colored, Negro, and Black Ancestors once did!”
