A compulsively readable sports narrative by senior NFL writer for
ESPN's The Undefeated (now Andscape), Jason Reid, chronicling both the
history of Black players in the NFL, such as Warren Moon, and the recent
careers of groundbreaking Black quarterbacks, including Colin
Kaepernick.
**
**In September 2019, ESPN's The Undefeated website (now Andscape) began
a season-long series of articles on the emergence of Black quarterbacks
in the NFL. The first article in the series was Jason Reid's enormously
popular, "Welcome to the Year of the Black Quarterback." The series
culminated with an hour-long television program in February 2020, hosted
by Reid himself. The Rise of the Black Quarterback: What It Means for
America will expand on Reid's piece--as well as the entire series--and
chronicle the shameful history of the treatment of Black players in the
NFL and the breakout careers of a thrilling new generation of Black
quarterbacks. Intimate portraits of Colin Kaepernick, Patrick Mahomes,
Lamar Jackson, and Kyler Murray feature prominently in the book, as well
as the careers and legacy of beloved NFL players such as Doug Williams
and trailblazing pioneers Marlin Briscoe and Eldridge Dickey. Reid
delves deeply into the culture war ignited by Kaepernick's peaceful
protest that shone a light on systemic oppression and police brutality.
Fascinating and timely, this page-turning account will rivet fans of
sports, cultural commentary, and Black history in America.
