Whitmer signs law establishing Negro Leagues Day in Michigan

State Representative Helena Scott (D-Detroit) celebrated Juneteenth this year by visiting a historic baseball stadium and witnessing the signing of her bill honoring the Negro Leagues in Michigan.

Her bill makes May 2 Negro Leagues Day in Michigan, honoring Michigan players – including one of her uncles – and teams that were among the best in the country.

“They weren’t just players,” Scott said. “They were pioneers and ambassadors of change. Today, MLB includes statistics of these remarkable players in its league, showcasing their undeniable talent and their story of what could have been. When these athletes were shut out of the big leagues, they still found a way to play the game, and they played it well.”

The law was signed at Hamtramck Stadium, which was the home of the Detroit Stars and Detroit Wolves in the 1930s. The stadium is one of five Negro Leagues stadiums still standing.

Whitmer said that celebrating Negro Leagues Day not only recognizes the injustice of segregated sports, but also the players’ achievements on the field.

“We recognize players who made history and honor their memory,” she said. “Everyone deserves to play and every story deserves to be told and remembered.”

The signing of the law was timed to coincide with the celebration of Juneteenth, which commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War reached Galveston, Texas.

Juneteenth did not mark the end of legal slavery in the United States, as the Emancipation Proclamation only applied to states that had revolted and joined the Confederacy. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which ended slavery, was ratified months later on December 6, 1865.

Whitmer signed a law last year to make Juneteenth an official state holiday. As of 2021, Juneteenth is a federal holiday under a law signed by President Joe Biden.