Kent was the right man at the right time.

‘Being the first is all about timing’

Kent Washington has strived to be a professional basketball player his entire life. During a rather successful stint at Southampton College men’s basketball, his team traveled to Poland to play against Lublin’s National Basketball Team. At the time, Kent didn’t think much of it and went back to the U.S. with the rest of his team. Following the auspicious period at Southampton College team, he got drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, after being cut during his first season, Washington began to look for other options, and remembered the offer from the Polish National Basketball Team in Lublin.

Kent took a chance and the rest is history. 

When I speak with Washington about his experience playing in Poland during the late 1970s/early 1980’s, he reflects on his time there with a restrained reverence. Ever the modest athlete, he remains grateful to have been able to play professional basketball, no less in a turbulent time politically for both the united states* and Poland. 

Perhaps due to his young age or just pure naivety, he did not actually grasp the significance of what he was doing at that time. Being the ‘first’ was not top of his mind. 

‘I didn’t know what was going on at the time, I was just there to play basketball’. 

A phrase that is repeated throughout our interview. I believe this purity in intention is perhaps why he was so well suited to be the ‘first’. Despite being black during a time when African-american people faced discrimination and violence in the united states, he apparently was not a threat to either government at the time. No political activity or affiliations, no distractions, just pure, unfettered commitment to his sport. 

‘People kept asking me why I came to Poland when everyone is trying to leave. They didn’t understand the commitment I had to this sport’.

How could a government say no to that? 

It is curious though, why either government would have allowed this to happen in the first place. From the U.S. perspective, it’s a huge liability for an american citizen to travel to a country under communist rule. From Poland’s perspective, an american residing in the country after martial law was enforced is also a liability for them. Indeed, most americans fled from Poland after martial law was implemented, including the u.s. embassy director. So why then was a black american athlete allowed to stay? One can only speculate as to what the reasons were. And luckily for Kent, he did not have to spend much time wondering. He really truly was just there to play basketball. Sometimes, the simple answer is the correct one. 

The black man in communist Europe recalls the essay Notes from a Trip to Russia from Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde.

Audre Lorde in Russia is about as unlikely as Kent Washington in Poland. Some of the comparisons she drew between Russia and the united states in terms of how black people were treated are similar to what Kent shared with me. She was a bit of a novelty because she was an academic, an esteemed guest which afforded her certain privileges, and perhaps overshadowed any potential anti-black bias she might have faced had she not had travelled under those special circumstances. Similarly with Kent, he mentioned that being a famous basketball player shielded him from some of the hardships of communist Poland at the time, and that his basketball club was able to procure things for him that locals would not have been able to access. ‘I lived comfortably, there were things my club could have arranged. Polish soldiers knew me and liked me.’

It is interesting that in both instances, the black american is traveling to the USSR as a special visitor, not simply as a tourist. In Lorde’s case, it is clear what the Russian government’s motive was in inviting her–there was a conference of African and Asian scholars and they wanted to strengthen relations between Russia and Africa. But why would Poland want a black american athlete? Kent could only speculate, for he did not question Poland’s motives very seriously. Again, he was simply content to be playing basketball. 

Comparing U.S. and Poland: Then Vs. Now

Interviewing Washington at this time in history is timely. Effects of the Cold War between the West and the USSR are still lingering today. Though more than 50 years have passed, there are some important parallels that can be drawn between the current socio-political context and that of the 1980s. 

Kent speculates that one reason why the Polish government approved his immigration was due to the Polish Labour Party’s argument that his inability to be employed in his field in the U.S. serves as evidence of the failures of north american capitalism, thus boosting the image of communism. 

Though it may not be the case for professional athletes as it is for labourers, most workers in the u.s. are doing worse now compared to 50 years ago, due to stagnant wages, rising cost of living, and weakened labour unions. Communism is still a dirty word in the u.s., but positive sentiment is growing, particularly among young leftist progressive voters. 

During a time when many western countries are trending towards authoritarianism, excessive violence against marginalised communities, especially black folks and immigrants, it was touching to hear Kent speak about his experience in such a positive way. It can be incredibly draining to constantly think about one’s race and the way others will react to it. For Washington, it seemed it was not something he had to grapple with much, and thus was able to focus solely on his purpose: becoming the best athlete he can be. His identity as an athlete was front and centre during his experience in Poland, rather than his identity as a black man, which is a beautiful yet uncommon experience for black folks across the diaspora. 

‘I was just happy to be playing basketball’

Rarely are we afforded the opportunity to focus solely on our own personal goals without having to siphon energy to racial dynamics. It’s a beautiful thing that Kent was able to maintain a sense of pure drive toward his goals without becoming distracted by racial dynamics. It’s hard to say for certain, but my guess is that had he stayed in the united states and maintained a basketball career there, he would have spent a significant amount of time and energy navigating racial dynamics as an athlete. The purity in his drive toward improving his athleticism would have been more difficult to maintain. There is an innocence in pure ambition, to do nothing but become a better athlete (or painter, or dancer, etc.). Innocence is not a privilege easily afforded to black folks in the united states.  But if they go back in time to Communist Poland? They might find it there. 

*The author has chosen to de-capitalise all references to North America

Read more about Kent Washington’s experience in his memoir: Kentomania: A Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland