Shining the Light on how Kilo-Wat Broke Basketball’s Color Barrier

Episode 4 April 24, 2025 00:50:49
Shining the Light on how Kilo-Wat Broke Basketball’s Color Barrier
Roots, Race & Culture
Shining the Light on how Kilo-Wat Broke Basketball’s Color Barrier

Apr 24 2025 | 00:50:49

/

Show Notes

In America, Jackie Robinson is a household name, known for breaking the color barrier in professional baseball. But did you know that the color barrier in basketball was broken by a Utah native?

Wataru Misaka was the first non-white athlete in professional basketball when he was drafted by the New York Knicks. At the time, there were two professional leagues which merged into the NBA in 1949, so this legend of professional basketball has largely gone unrecognized until recently.

Meet two people who are working to bring Wat’s story to Utah audiences through a stage play: Aaron Asano Swenson, playwright of "Kilo-Wat", and actor Bryan Kido.

Other Episodes

Episode 3

May 27, 2022 00:22:20
Episode Cover

Diversity in Religious Art

Can depictions of religious icons in art & architecture have an impact on the deepness of one’s connection to their faith? We speak with...

Listen

Episode 4

February 24, 2023 00:59:06
Episode Cover

Indigenous Food Activism

Since colonization, Native American rates of diabetes, blood pressure and heart disease have skyrocketed. We’ll discuss the benefits of returning to a simpler pre-colonization...

Listen

Episode 2

February 09, 2024 00:47:50
Episode Cover

The Upside to Lowriders

Discover the rich history and positive aspects of Hispanic American lowriding culture as we explore how it transformed into a thriving community. Connie Mendoza...

Listen