Sports ‘We’re not leaving’: How Wendell Smith, Sam Lacy and Black press pushed to integrate MLB during 1930s and 1940s February 3, 2023Cesar Brioso, USA TODAYComments Off on ‘We’re not leaving’: How Wendell Smith, Sam Lacy and Black press pushed to integrate MLB during 1930s and 1940s The Black press, led by sports writers Wendell Smith and Sam Lacy, advocated to end baseball's color barrier and integrate MLB in the 1930s and 1940s.