Why not prepare for the end of winter and the beginning of spring with a good book? Bijan C. Bayne's Martha's Vineyard Basketball: How a Resort League Defied Notions of Race and Class . . . will inspire, motivate and entertain you. * BET (Black Entertainment Television) *
Martha's Vineyard may not be commonly regarded as a basketball mecca. But Bijan Bayne's new book Martha's Vineyard Basketball: How a Resort League Defied the Notions of Race and Class puts it on the map. . . .The award winning author incorporates recollections of his family with anecdotes and eyewitness impressions from other longtime residents. Martha's Vineyard Basketball is a homespun narrative of the storied lore of Massachusetts roundball that reinforces the notion that no man is an island. * SLAM Magazine *
We have long known about tolerant race relations here. Now we have the chance to understand basketball's contribution to Vineyard culture, and also its long history here. . . .Everyone involved in Vineyard basketball should read the book. You just might find your name in it. * Martha's Vineyard Gazette *
The narrative weaves connections between politicians, NBA stars Ray Allen and Julius Erving, TV stars, and local athletes and coaches, in a manner that blurs degrees of separation. . . .Martha's Vineyard Basketball is a folksy read. The reader can hear the story being told. If you are one of the hundred-plus people named in this book, you're in for a great trip down Memory Lane. If you like an authentic retelling of American life in the 1960s and 1970s, you'll enjoy this one as well. * Martha's Vineyard Times *
[The book is] a reminder of how rare it was (and is) for a playground to be full of people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Rare, and vital. * Martha's Vineyard Magazine *
Martha's Vineyard Basketball is more than a just history of basketball on the hard court and pavement of a small slice of Massachusetts. It captures a place and past time with a depth of detail and feeling that can be summed up in one simple word: love. -- Karyn Parsons, actor, writer, and producer
In an era of extreme racial segregation in the 1950s, and racial rage and uprisings in the late 1960s and early 1970s, African Americans and whites came together not by race, but by basketball skill. This is an absolutely fascinating read about a little-known chapter in both the history of Martha's Vineyard and an unusual example of racial harmony. Martha's Vineyard has always been a special place for vacationers. Who knew that it was also a special place for basketball players! -- Julianne Malveaux, economist and author
Bijan Bayne's book about Martha's Vineyard is fascinating and captures the essence of the Vineyard. My wife and I were told about the Vineyard many years ago and have moved from visiting the Vineyard to owning a home in Oak Bluffs. When I think of the Vineyard, I recall meeting and representing Dorothy West there and hearing great stories about Black life on the Vineyard. Bijan's book captures the heart and soul of a great place to vacation, relax, read and raise a family. This book is not only a summer delight while relaxing on the beach, but a great read near your fireplace in the winter. -- Charles J. Ogletree, Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
[In this] passionately-written history. . . .Bayne demonstrates an impressive memory, vividly recalling the minutest details about the games and players that inspired his love for Martha's Vineyard basketball. . . .Bayne's authenticity in retelling the story of Martha's Vineyard basketball as well as his fervor for 'The Courts' transform . . . [a] history into somewhat of love note that basketball enthusiasts, New Englanders, non-academics, and nostalgic visitors to the island will enjoy. . . .Bayne's chronicling of the summer resort league in Oak Bluffs . . . make for a remarkable account that evinces both the allure of Martha's Vineyard and the unifying power of basketball. * Sport in American History *
