As part of the monthlong celebration of Black History Month, Loyola Marymount University partnered with the Los Angeles Rams to host a screening of “Kingfish,” a 16-minute documentary film about football pioneer Kenny “Kingfish” Washington, the first Black American to reintegrate the NFL. The screening was a collaborative effort between LMU Marketing and Communications’ External Relations and Partnerships team, LMU Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Office of Black Student Services, and The Learning Community. Students, faculty, and staff gathered in Ahmanson Auditorium on Feb. 19, 2024, to view the film, followed by a panel discussion.
The film detailed the struggles Washington faced during the segregation era despite being a skilled athlete. “He lived through the same indignities as others who broke color barriers,” said the film’s narrator Grammy-nominated rapper D Smoke. “He experienced violence, taunts, racial epithets, and the humiliation of segregation, without getting any sense that the league appreciated his struggle. Still, the ‘Kingfish,’ like every hero, didn’t let these obstacles stop him.”
Following the film, the panelists – Yusuf Rowser, associate producer of Rams Studios; Bianca Graves, senior manager of Partnership Marketing; and Shaun Anderson, Ph.D., LMU associate professor and chair of Communication Studies – were all passionate about furthering Washington’s story and shared why it’s important to them.
Moderated by Johnathan Franklin, a former NFL running back and Rams director of Social Justice and Football Development, the panelists recognized that Washington’s legacy is an under-told story. While Jackie Robinson’s story of integrating Major League Baseball is widely known, the same cannot be said of Kenny “Kingfish” Washington.
When the NFL was founded in 1920, the sport was not as popular as baseball, and good players were hard to find. Initially, there were 13 black players, but their numbers began dwindling due to racism. By 1932, there were only two black players, and by 1934, there were none, thanks to NFL team owners secretly agreeing to ban black players in 1933. A breakthrough would not come until 1946, when Washington signed with the L.A. Rams, reintegrating the NFL.
It’s a little-known fact that Washington and Robinson played football together for the UCLA Bruins from 1939-40 and were part of the “Gold Dust Trio” that also included another African American player, Woodrow Strode. This trio helped the Bruins to a 6-0-4 record, UCLA’s first unbeaten season. Washington and Strode went on to sign with the L.A. Rams in 1946, breaking the football color barrier, while Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
LMU’s Anderson shared his perspective on Washington’s legacy. “When we think about what’s happening in society now – the banning of books and the restricting of history – [Washington] should have been a household name a long time ago,” he said. “But now it’s more that we should just erase [history] and be a country more focused on the future and not the past. But we all know that the past helps us build that future. That’s one of the main reasons why we don’t see this story being told.” Moderator Franklin agreed, saying, “It’s definitely significant. When we say Jackie Robinson, we understand what his name means.”
As a video producer, Rowser said that Washington’s story inspires him to find stories of different black and brown people that are also under-told and don’t get the light that they deserve. Just as Washington persevered on the football field, Rowser hopes to persevere in his craft.
When asked how Washington’s story inspires her, Graves said, “I think Kenny inspires me to use my voice. Stepping into spaces where you don’t see yourself, you don’t feel like you have a voice. If Kenny could break the color barrier and reintegrate the NFL, it challenges me to have a voice and take a stand for what I believe in. There aren’t a lot of people who look like me, or Yusuf, or Johnathan in positions to make a change,” she added. “Ultimately, it motivates me to keep going and encourage others and be a support system for the next generation.”
After the discussion, one student asked the panelists how they navigate spaces where people don’t look like them, while another asked how to break into the sports industry. The panelists all agreed that it’s important to take advantage of opportunities such as internships and not be afraid to show up as your authentic self.
Washington’s record 92-yard touchdown run remains unbroken to this day, yet his legacy is less known. As panelists underscored, before there was a Jackie Robinson, there was Kenny Washington, and we need to continue telling his story.
The historic partnership between LMU and the Los Angeles Rams – LMU is the first-ever official higher education partner of the football team – offers LMU students exclusive academic and pre-professional opportunities with one of the nation’s most successful sports franchises. Visit LMU and Los Angeles Rams Partnership to stay informed about events happening on campus.
