THE CULTURE

Entertainment, Media and Sports Legacy

By Kristen Jones

What started out as just a dream has turned into a profitable area of business for many African Americans—a business that turns billion-dollar profits yearly and is loved by the masses regardless of their race. This is the business of sports, which can’t be discussed without mention of the alwayscontroversial National Football League (NFL).

Charles “The Black Cyclone” Follis is often considered the first African American to play professional football, playing for the Shelby Steamfitters or Shelby Blues from 1902 to 1906.

The American Professional Football Association, the forerunner of the NFL, was started in 1920, but few African Americans were included among the rosters. In fact, only a few players hit the field for teams in the early years, with J. Mayo Williams and Paul Robeson in that small number.

Fritz Pollard and Bobby Marshall were the first African Americans to be a part of what is now known as the National Football League. Pollard recalled that fans at away games sometimes threw rocks at him and even fans of his own team sometimes booed him. Pollard also became the first African American coach and quarterback in the NFL in the early 1920s.

In 1926, after several teams were booted from the league, many of the remaining teams switched out eligible African American players for the more popular white players.

Occasionally, over the next few years, a black player would join a team and play for a short time, but that was it. In 1928, Harold Bradley Sr. played only one season with the Chicago Cardinals, and in 1931 and 1932, David Myers played for two different New York teams. 1933 saw the last attempt to integrate African Americans into the game with the entrance of Joe

Lillard and Ray Kemp. Neither lasted past the end of the season. In 1933, NFL owners began implementing a type of unofficial racial ban that would last for about 13 years until 1946, probably to please racists—both fans and those involved in the sport. That year, George Preston Marshall, owner of the Boston Braves franchise, stepped on the scene blasting hateful comments toward African Americans and ultimately causing a blackout among the players by refusing to let them play on many teams. The Great Depression increased the national hatred for these men and not much sympathy was felt. The sight of a successful African American football player would not be experienced again for quite some Frederick Douglass “Fritz” Pollard, one of two time. While other minorities were first black players in the NFL, 1920 being introduced to the NFL and its fans, the black players of the past either worked in a different profession or joined teams not affiliated with the blatantly racist NFL. After they were rejected by the NFL, blacks formed black teams of their own, which played against semipro white teams. The NFL would not sign another African American player until after World War II. All this would change in 1946, however. That year, a black player from UCLA named Kenny Washington took America’s attention and broke the new NFL color barrier when he was called on to join the NFL following the Rams’ move to Los Angeles, Calif. When the commission was asked to sign Washington to the Los Angeles Rams, it caused an expected ruckus in the sports community. Woody Strode then became the second African American player to be signed by the team in May 1946, and the team entered the season with two standout black players on its roster. No other NFL team chose to select African American players until 1948 when the Detroit Lions

signed Mel Groomes and Bob Mann. Only three of the 10 NFL teams had signed players before 1950. These teams—the Lions, the Rams and the Giants— would be joined by the Packers in 1950 when they also signed an African American player. The majority of the league didn’t follow suit until 1952, and even then, Marshall was against signing any to his Redskins team. The team was threatened with eviction from D.C. Stadium in 1961 due to not having an African American player. As a result, in 1962, Marshall went on to sign Ernie Davis, who refused to play with Marshall at the helm and was traded to the Cleveland Browns. Three other players were signed that year in his place, including Bobby Mitchell.

Still, well-known quotas were put into place limiting the number of African American players per team as well as the positions they played. Most of these men played the same position causing them to be in competition with one another or forcing the cancellation of one player over the next.

All the controversy proved to be too much for Walt Frazier, a high-school senior who received numerous scholarships to play football but instead chose to play basketball, stating he didn’t believe he would be successful as an African American quarterback in the NFL. He went on to have a knockout NBA career worthy of Hall of Fame status, but was his fear a valid one? Racial profiling is said to exist in the League causing many African American players to exclusively play cornerback positions and allowing 23 of the 32 starting quarterback positions to be held by white players in 2013. The tides appear to be turning, however, as the 2020 football season saw 10 African American starting quarterbacks—the most ever.

Today, 70 percent of all NFL players are African American, but the struggle remains to put them in more significant leadership roles. Black players continue to be seen as more of the “muscle” of a team, rather than the brains. Though there is a growing legacy of outstanding black quarterbacks, from Doug Williams to Randall Cunningham to Donovan McNabb to today’s potential billion-dollar man Patrick Mahomes, most of the black players have remained resigned to the line or racing each other as receivers versus corners.

Black representation has also been limited on the sidelines and in the front office. While Art Shell became the first black head coach in the modern NFL just over 30 years ago, when the 2021 season opened, there were only three among 32 NFL teams: Pittsburgh stalwart Mike Tomlin, Houston’s David Culley and Miami’s Brian Flores. There are only a handful of general managers and no black NFL team owners. The only minority owners in the league are Pakistani and Asian.

With the sports industry at an estimated worth of $620 billion today, it’s no wonder it didn’t take long before African Americans demanded their piece of the pie. Calvin Hill, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, was able to secure the first endorsement deal of that time when he began appearing in Dr. Pepper commercials in 1969. The list went on to include O.J. Simpson, former football player for the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers. Consumers flooded the market and African American athletes started looking more profitable to White America. Russell Wilson, the highly paid, Super Bowl-winning quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, is just one of the many players using their football skills to launch profitable careers through advertising. Like their white counterparts, African American football players are subjected to wage issues, possible health complications, fear of longevity, and likability to the masses. Unlike their counterparts, however, the underlying hate for these players still appears to be present. Only time will tell how long until the shift is made and the differences cease to exist—when these amazing men and women are recognized for their hard work and celebrated for their accomplishments.

Photo credit: Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock.com

Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Baltimore Ravens

Photo credit: All-Pro Reels

Stefon Diggs, leading wide receiver, Buffalo Bills

Photo credit: Keith Allison

Bobby Wagner, linebacker, Seattle Seahawks

Photo credit: Keith Allison

Colin Kaepernick

Photo credit: Stephen Lam/Reuters

Jackson burst on to the NFL scene as a premier quarterback with the Baltimore Ravens. After earning several collegiate honors while at Louisville, including the Heisman Trophy, Jackson’s rookie year as a pro saw him earn the MVP award while leading the Ravens to a 14-2 regular season record. In two years, Jackson has already thrown for 7,085 yards and 68 touchdowns, to just 18 interceptions.

After progressively improving his stats over five years with the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs signed with the Buffalo Bills for the 2020 season and delivered the best year of his career. Diggs, a wide receiver, earned his second trip to the Pro Bowl as he finished with 1,535 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the NFL in receptions and yards.

It was clear Wagner was going to be someone special as far back as high school. Utah State took notice and offered him a scholarship. While at USU, Wagner had 445 tackles and utterly dominated when he was invited to the Senior Bowl. Today, he is the highest paid middle linebacker in the NFL and is coming off a 138-tackle season. The Seahawks lost in the playoffs to the Rams, but in that game, Wagner had 16 tackles.

Kaepernick was a mildly successful quarterback who led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. His non-playing actions on the field are what he is most known for today, after he famously kneeled during the national anthem. Many were outraged across the country as they saw the kneel as an act of disrespect to veterans and our freedom, while many others applauded his protest to raise awareness of the inequality blacks continue to face. He has seemingly become persona non grata in the NFL, as no teams have signed him to a contract since the conclusion of his contract with San Francisco.

Brown is the greatest NFL running back of all-time, hands down. A hardnosed player known for charging at defenders rather than attempting to elude them, Brown ran for 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns in nine seasons. His star had shone bright long before he made the pros and the accolades for his on-the-field performances are numerous. Toward the end of his football career, Brown tried his hand at acting, which parlayed into a strong second career. He maintained his connection to football as an analyst. Brown has been involved in legal trouble after his football retirement, with most charges and allegations being dismissed. Since serving less than four months of a six-month sentence in jail in 2002 for ignoring the terms of a sentence tied to bashing his wife’s windshield in with a shovel, Brown has had no further issues.

Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns running back and NFL legend

Photo credit: Neil Leifer/Sports lllustrated

“Sir Lawrence” Taylor, New York Giants linebacker

Photo credit: Neil Leifer/Sports lllustrated

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ play to own the Carolina Panthers fumbled in 2018.

Chris Grier of the Miami Dolphins, the first black general manager.

Photo credit: Miami Herald

Mike Tomlin, head coach, Pittsburgh Steelers—one of three in the NFL

Taylor was one of the scariest linebackers to ever don an NFL jersey. In a 13-year career with the New York Giants, Taylor played in 184 games and had 132.5 sacks. His career-ending hit on quarterback Joe Theismann in 1985, during which Taylor broke both bones in his opponent’s leg, forever altered management’s approach to fielding a team. Offensive linemen became more prominent, at least in the eyes of the moneymen looking to protect their multimillion-dollar quarterback investments. Taylor told Theismann after the injury that he never does anything halfway. Postfootball, Taylor has faced legal troubles, battled substance abuse and turned to acting.

Combs attempted to purchase the Carolina Panthers in 2018 before losing out to David Tepper. Combs truly defines the word “mogul” with his hands in several industries and had visions of being the first black NFL team owner. In the wake of the Kaepernick controversy, Combs has stated that he has lost interest in owning a team due to league policies against kneeling for the anthem or staying in the locker room. He would prefer to be a voice for broader change, similar to the actions of Muhammad Ali or Jim Brown.

In 2016, Chris Grier became the first black general manager in the NFL. He was later promoted to the head of all football operations. Grier’s front office moves have allowed the Dolphins many prominent draft picks. Football is a game of distance, and Grier appears to be playing the long game by building a contender for years to come with youth. The 2020 season saw the Dolphins win 10 games for only the second time in a decade. Their defense also led the NFL in takeaways. The 2021 draft gave the Dolphins two first-round and two second-round draft picks, with two more second-round picks available in 2023.

Mike Tomlin has the distinction of being the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl, with a victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. Tomlin was hired to take over as Pittsburgh’s head coach after the retirement of Bill Cowher in 2007. He was the 10th black head coach in history and only the third to lead a team to the Super Bowl, following Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy. Today, Tomlin is one of three active NFL head coaches and has the longest tenure of any current head coach. His head coaching record stands at 153-86-1, or a .650 winning percentage. The Steelers have not had a losing season under his guidance. They have either won the division or placed second in all but two seasons. Tomlin’s treatment by the league has been questionable, as he was accused of interfering in a play during a Thanksgiving game against the rival Ravens in which his team was behind. He was fined $100,000 for the alleged infraction, the second-highest penalty levied against a head coach at the time. (The other involved a coach scalping tickets.) He was fined an additional $100,000 in 2020 for not wearing a mask.

The game of soccer came to life in the late 1800s for Andrew Watson, Robert Walker and Arthur Wharton when they broke the color barrier and became a part of history.

Watson, who was born in Guyana, is considered the first black soccer player to play at an international level. Beginning his career in Scotland, he was selected to play with premier clubs such as Maxwell FC and Queen’s Park FC. He flourished as wingback and led the Scotland team as captain. With a career spanning over 20 years, he was a well-respected player and is regarded as one of the greatest soccer players in British history. Robert Walker played alongside Watson, and, born in Scotland, he was featured in the 1876 Scottish Cup Final. Arthur Wharton was the first black player to sign a professional contract for soccer when he was discovered by Darlington. He went on to play for them until 1888 and is known as a gifted athlete who mastered at least three other sports. He retired in1902.

In 1922, Leonard H. Raney played on Kearny High School’s first varsity soccer team. At the time, it was rare for an African American to play soccer. While today little players are celebrated in this profession, Raney was a pioneer.

If you named the list of players who made the nation pay attention to soccer, you would have to name Gil Heron. The Jamaican-born athlete was similar to Jackie Robinson in that he debuted in 1946 for the Detroit Wolverines. He quickly became a fan favorite and rose in popularity. A 1947 article in Ebony magazine hailed Heron as the “Babe Ruth of soccer,” At the time, he was the only black professional player in the country.

Also among the most influential African American players were Freddy Adu, Sydney Leroux, Cobi Jones, Briana Scurry and Eddie Pope. These players had remarkable abilities and played hard, solidifying their place in sports records. They went against the norm of shying away from the difficulties involving racism and instead showed the world they had the capacity to excel. They focused on being team players, some even leaders of their team, and had the world watching while they did so.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and the people of the United States may be the only ones who do not immediately think of it when we hear the word “football.” The sport is gaining ground in the U.S., however, with Major League Soccer’s popularity seeing a 27 percent increase since 2012, according to Nielsen Sports Sponsorlink.

NFL standout Russell Wilson recently became a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders of the MLS. The Sounders won the MLS championship cup in 2019, and Wilson has gone on record as saying he would one day like to own the NFL Seahawks.

Wilson’s ownership may add more eyes to MLS, but few have had the impact on American soccer as Pele. Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Brazil, came to the New York Cosmos in 1975 after retiring from the Brazilian national team in 1974.

Upon his arrival to the North American Soccer League team, he was greeted as a conquering hero. Everyone had heard of him and wanted to shake his hand.

On his way to leading the Cosmos to a league title, Pele drew record crowds to Giants Stadium for the playoffs. This included a 3-0 win in front of 62,394 in which Pele scored every goal.

Long before he made his way to United States soccer, Pele was a participant in the World Cup, which rivals the Olympics in international competition. Although the event has been held every four years since 1930 (except 1942 and 1946), the United States has yet to win a title and hosted the tournament once, in 1994. The closest the U.S. came to a title was a third-place finish in the inaugural event in 1930, which hosted only 13 teams. The most recent games hosted 32.

Teams from Europe and South America dominate FIFA’s rankings, but African countries are working their way up. Nearly every country on the continent has at least one team vying for dominance.

The Teranga Lions, the national team of Senegal, have made two appearances in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, in 2002 and 2018. As of BAVUAL’s deadline, the Lions are ranked 21st by FIFA.

Black players will likely be key to many teams attempting to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Soccer legend Pele

Senegal’s Teranga Lions Photo credit: Issouf Sanogo/AFP

Kristen Jones, a freelance writer, is also contributing editor of BAVUAL.