Williams shares Civil Rights Game memories

CHICAGO -- White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams was an active and an integral part in a successful and informative Civil Rights Game weekend hosted by his team. Williams took part in Friday's roundtable discussion on Baseball and the Civil Rights Movement and attended Saturday's Beacon Awards.

In discussing the seventh Civil Rights Game in Chicago, Williams couldn't help but think back to the second Game in Memphis in 2008 and a powerful exhibit on Black Panther schools he witnessed on a tour of the Civil Rights Museum.

"Well, yeah, because my biological mother was one of the first members," Williams said. "I remember going into the Panther headquarters in Oakland, California and playing in the backyard. Some of my early babysitters are some of the legendary names in Panther history.

"It was, contrary to what maybe many people believe, it was a heck of a learning environment. And one that was not exclusive at all. That probably surprised a lot of other people too that actually recognized regardless of race, recognized those who felt that equality was a value in our society."