November 13, 1947 · New York, New York

Wataru Misaka Breaks Pro Basketball's Color Barrier

achievement

On November 13, 1947, Japanese American guard Wataru 'Wat' Misaka debuted for the New York Knicks, becoming the first non-white player and first Asian American in the league that became the NBA.

Sources

andscape.com andscape.com/features/wataru-misaka-broke-pro-basketballs-color-barrier-you-should-know-his-name
washingtonpost.com washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/wat-misaka-who-broke-pro-basketballs-color-barrier-dies-at-95/2019/11/24/b5e3c242-0ed5-11ea-bf62-eadd5d11f559_story.html

Also on November 13

November 13, 1922 injustice

Takao Ozawa v. United States Decided

The Supreme Court ruled that Japanese immigrants were not 'white' and were ineligible for naturalized citizenship.

November 13, 1982 achievement

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Dedicated

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, designed by 21-year-old Chinese American architecture student Maya Lin, was dedicated in Washington; her minimalist granite wall became one of the nation's most visited memorials. (Shares Nov 13 with the 1922 Ozawa ruling.)