§ 278 A Plea for Studied Action
Two ball teams, made up of inmates of San Quentin in California, played a game for the prison championship. One team was composed of negroes, the other of white men.
In the seventh inning, with the score a tie, the pitcher for the colored team, a long-term man, grew nervous under the strain. He wound up too quickly. In his haste he made wild pitches. He gave two opposing batters their bases on balls.
Over on the side lines a negro rooter raised his voice in steadying words to the champion of his race:
“Tek yo’ time, black boy,” he clarioned. “Tek yo’ time! You ain’t needin’ to be in no hurry. You got a-plenty time to win dis game—you got nineteen yeahs!”