Middlesex Community College celebrated the National Day of Community Healing on Thursday, January 29. Led by the college’s Center for Truth, Community Healing and Transformation, MCC welcomed filmmaker and author Byron Motley, producer of the Negro Baseball League documentary “The League.”
“Stories about the Negro Baseball Leagues are more than just tales about baseball,” Motley said. “During a segregated period of American history, the leagues became stories of men and women who simply wanted to play the game they loved. And in that love of the game, they were able to create the third largest Black owned business enterprise in this country at that time. I hope to inspire the students of Middlesex Community College and the community to learn more about these iconic tales of these incredible athletes, umpires, team owners and fans. Play ball!”
Streaming on various platforms, “The League” is directed by Sam Pollard and co-produced with Academy Award winner “Questlove.” The film chronicles Motley’s late father Bob Motley, a Negro League umpire, while exploring the history of Black people in baseball.
During MCC’s event, Motley offered a lecture and Q&A after the screening of the film. A reception and meet and greet followed, ending with a performance from MCC’s Music Club. Co-sponsored by MCC’s Office of Student Engagement and the Program for Asian American Student Advancement, the event was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in MCC’s Lowell Cowan Center Cafeteria.
Established in 2021, MCC’s Center for Truth, Community Healing and Transformation hosts events at the college and within the community. The Center is a hub and resource to engage in the ongoing practice of community healing through relationship building, truth-telling and healing.
“For the fifth consecutive year, MCC’s Center for Truth, Community Healing and Transformation celebrated the National Day of Racial and Community Healing by centering powerful storytelling,” said Maria Gariepy, MCC’s Executive Director of Strategic Priorities & Professional Development. “This year, we were honored to host Byron Motley and screen his documentary ‘The League,’ while fostering dialogue, reflection and connection. Opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations like this allow us to honor lived experiences and shared history, confront inequities, learn in community, and reaffirm our commitment to building a campus rooted in belonging, dignity, and shared humanity.”
Learn more about MCC’s Center for Truth, Community Healing and Transformation!