This one-hour documentary
retraces a little-known chapter in American sports
history: the heritage of the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes,
an auto racing circuit for African-American drivers
and mechanics, set against a backdrop of racial
unrest in America during the 1920s and '30s. The
program not only tells of the racial barriers these
intrepid sportsmen had to overcome, but also examines
the efforts of many whites and blacks to come together,
despite the social pressures of the day, to create
the largest single sporting event ever held for
African Americans.
For Gold
and Glory: Hardcover Book
In this book, Wiggins' widow,
Roberta, and the driver's families, recount vivid
stories of his career, such as Charlie's unexpected
run-in with the KKK in Kentucky, his outrageous
stunts to help promote the black racing circuit,
and his strange relationship with the notorious
gunman John Dillinger. Set against the colorful
backdrop of gangsters, bootleggers, the birth of
Jazz, and the early history of auto racing in the
U.S., For Gold and Glory chronicles a uniquely American
story. 212 Pages.
