Rise of the Black Quarterback. Jason Reid.
What It Means for America.
The NFL has been featuring a league of football playing teams since 1920. In those years many great quarterbacks have graced the gridiron leading their team to victories, championships and much fan-fare. For the first fifty to sixty years the majority of those quarterbacks were Caucasian. It wasn’t until the 1970’s and 1980’s when teams of the league started to let black players lead their franchise as quarterbacks. While the number of black quarterbacks still may pale in comparison to their white counterparts across the league, things have changed. More black quarterbacks are drafted now, become all-pro players and lead franchises to championships. Most importantly, the young black quarterback is no longer asked or expected to change positions in order to make a team. Hence, The Rise of the Black Quarterback by Jason Reid is the latest story of this gradual transformation under center.
Reid, Senior NFL writer for ESPN, uses his vast writing experiences and talents to unfold the story of how the black quarterback has now emerged as an accepted and perhaps even expected force in the league. Of course, this book is no stranger to history, Reid reminds and informs the reader about some of the great forgotten, if unknown, black quarterbacks in American football playing history. Players such as Fritz Pollard, Willie Thrower and George Taliaffero all receive their deserved notoriety in the early sections of the book.
Reid is masterful at telling the story of emergence from one decade to the next. The latter part of the 1960’s slowly crept upon players like Marlin Briscoe and Eldridge Dickey. However, while they made rosters, they were given little shot to start for their respective teams. They even had a hard time just getting on the field to play at all. Reid reports that the 1970’s was the decade when more black players emerged as starting QB’s in the league. James “Shaq” Harris became a bigger name as he became an actual regular starter for the LA Rams and a fairly successful player, too.
Where Reid really starts to give more specific attention to the players starts in the 1980’s. Doug Williams, Randall Cunningham and Warren Moon all experienced their big breakthroughs during the Ronald Reagan and George Bush years. The author, however, did not just cover their exploits as a professional, but actually featured high school and college experiences as well. This helps the reader garner greater background of the athlete and know of the times in which they were living.
Of course, Reid focuses a chapter on Colin Kaeparnick since he was a standout player on the field and outspoken away from the stadium. Although a minor point, it is understandable why the author devoted more pages at the end of the manuscript to a trio of newly established star quarterbacks in the league such as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray. One wonders if more attention could have covered other up and comers in the league or even college or high school ranks. What might be interesting is to know how their experiences of today compare to what their QB playing forefathers experienced during similar stages of their career.
The exuberance of the topic and players accomplishments provided by the author is palpable. At times, though, Reid’s outrage and disgust is evident when discussing the set-backs and experiences many quarterbacks faced when trying to break into the league. As a result, it feels as if the writer tries too hard in summoning disdain if not demanding an outright apology for the decisions made in the past. Yet, it is likely understandable from his perspective that players of color are perpetually judged not only by their appearance, their ability to physically make the plays, their cognitive ability to understand the playbook while executing the plays but also command a huddle and leading a team as well as their white counterparts. Reid works to establish that black quarterbacks are more than equipped to handle the job and always have been.
The rise of the Black Quarterback is pretty evident as of late. 1999 saw three black signal callers taken very early in the first round. More and more black quarterbacks have been selected to play in the pro bowl, guide their teams to the super bowl and even win them. Today, the best quarterback and player in the league, no less, is African-American. Black quarterbacks have, indeed, come a long way not just as players but leaders of teams and influential of platforms while the living forefathers such as Doug Williams and Warren Moon along with those who are long past are more than proud of these accomplishments.
What it means for America? Obviously, it means the world to the black community. Reid suggests that “rise of the black quarterback ensures that America can no longer ignore these issues as easily as it once did.” While that may be true and good for all stakeholders involved, it remains to be seen if this emergence of more black quarterbacks in the pro league’s changes much in mainstream white America. Personally, it is all about letting the best players play and do their things. Whatever helps a team win with integrity and within the true spirit of the game is a fair enough standard. The book may be written in a sometimes-caustic tone but mostly triumphant narrative, reflects impeccable research and tells the story of so many players deserving of recognition all while pointing out an important milestone not so easily reached or soon forgotten.
· You might read this book if you enjoy learning about successful quarterbacks.
· You might read this book if you enjoy reading about black college quarterbacks.
· You might read this book if you like reading about past and current NFL quarterbacks.
· You might read this book if you seek information about successful black football athletes.
· You might read this book if you are a fan of reading about sports history particularly of black athletes.
Read more about the author on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JReidESPN
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