Join us for a SASH Session on Friday, February 20 at 4 PM ET when Jermaine Scott, professor of history at Florida Atlantic University, Maxwell Murray of Detroit City FC and the Urban Football League, and SASH board member Chuck Carlson will be presenting about two Black soccer players who broke racial barriers in US during the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Scott will discuss the American Soccer League’s first Black player, Jesus “Pito” Villalon, who was born in Cuba before playing in the US. Murray and Carlson will discuss the Jamaica-born Gil Heron. In addition to playing for Ontario, Detroit, and Chicago sides, Heron was the first Black player signed by Glasgow Celtic.
The session will include discussion of Villalon and Heron’s lives on and off the field, as well as explore broader issues of race in soccer in the US, including the team selection for the 1950 US Men’s National Team.
Please note this session is beginning at 4 PM ET instead of the usual 12 PM ET start time.
Login information for the session is as follows:
Topic: Gil Heron and ‘Pito’ Villalon: Black Players Breaking Barriers in US Soccer
Time: Feb 20, 2026 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85689337159
Meeting ID: 856 8933 7159
Join instructions: https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/85689337159/invitations?signature=N0v41mSEABEQAXUu5wSXb5qNT3bE1htLXTvDg30HJ-8