Honoring the rich cultural tradition, history and lasting contributions brought forth by the African American community, the White Sox celebrated African American Heritage Night on Thursday, August 28 vs. the New York Yankees.
Here’s a look at giveaways and activities fans enjoyed:
BMO Local Business Hub: Pregame at Gate 5, fans experienced the BMO Local Business Hub, where the Sox teamed up with several African American–owned businesses to showcase everything from apparel and skincare to food. Featured vendors included Ava’s Pet Palace, Essie’s Heart Healthy Delish, and My Crown My Glory.
Game Changers Photographer: Helping capture the night’s celebration, the White Sox invited photographer Dylan Hill as part of the Game Changers series, presented by Modelo. Hill found his passion for photography while he was an intern at the Boys and Girls Club. Now in its ninth season empowering underrepresented communities in sports, the series is one of the many ways the organization continues to elevate multidimensional storytelling and foster a sense of belonging for every fan at the ballpark.
Bobblehead Giveaway: The first 10,000 fans received a special Ice Cube bobblehead, honoring the multi-platinum artist who popularized the iconic black-and-white Sox cap in the ’90s. What began as a hip-hop look has since become a lasting piece of cultural history.
Hat Redemption: Fans who purchased a special ticket offer received a custom White Sox hat designed by Malawian-born, Chicago-based artist Oscar Joyo, known for his vibrant afrosurrealist style.
Gate & Ballpark Performance: As fans made their way into the ballpark, they were welcomed by the musical sounds of Romel Sims and the 21st Century jazz band.
National Anthem: The spotlight then turned to The Bourne Family, proud Chicago natives who performed both “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The group — made up of five sisters, three brothers, and their mother — delivered powerful renditions that highlighted their remarkable family harmonies.
Ceremonial First Pitch: Chicago native singer and rapper Shawnna, the daughter of the legendary blues guitarist and eight-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy, took the mound for a ceremonial first pitch.
Hero of the Game: During the game, the White Sox honored U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Joe Lewis Bogan Jr. as the evening’s Hero of the Game. Bogan joined the Marine Corps in 1983, serving 12 years as a motor transport operations chief while being deployed to Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf, Somalia and Cuba.
Photo Op: Fans captured memories at an African American–themed photo booth in Section 155, brought to life by BrownSugar’s Balloon Design & Academy.
The White Sox look forward to continuing these celebrations and creating more opportunities for fans to connect and celebrate at the ballpark in 2026.
White Sox Celebrate African American Heritage Night through Music, Culture and Community was originally published in Inside the White Sox on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.