I’m not a fan of football but there was something about this book that called me to read it. Before I share my thought about the book, I need to talk about this cover. It has an empowering presence of visuals that draw you in. Unsure if this was intentional or not, the emphasis of the gold lettering of certain elements of the title, speaks volumes before you turn the page. It has a commanding presence. It definitely sets the tone to be game ready with anticipation to dive right in.

Thought provoking and insightful, Rise of the Black Quarterback was a necessary book not only for football fans to broaden their knowledge of important players trailblazed the game but offer a history lesson of how the past paved a way for the present and future athletes that have been bestowed upon them the privilege of being a quarterback. Inspired by his well-received articles from his ongoing series, this book shares of the history and influence of the black players including trailblazers and others that supported their journey.

The commentary expressed in the book gave a voice to many that haven’t been heard. We experience their heartbreaking moments, hardships and discriminations that prevented their light to shine. Jason Reid so eloquently presents their voice through his words to share their experiences. From an outsider, this leaves you inspired from their perseverance through their obstacles to leave their impression on a sport they fought so hard to be a part of.

Overall, for a non-football fan, this book got me excited to learn more about the history of football from this perspective. There are many untold stories I’m sure and hope to see a follow-up to this the book. This has inspired me to check out the series to learn more about other players and their impact to the game. If you love football, this would be a fascinating read that highlights players from the past and currently. With the author’s first account experiences covering the NFL, you will get a more informative perspective that takes you right to the heart of the story.

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