The Forgotten Four: Breaking the Color Barrier in Pro Football
LETTER FROM CICELY LEWIS Dear Reader When you think of today's star Black athletes who comes to mind Maybe you think of LeBron James Mookie Betts Dak Prescott or Simone Biles They are all great athletes But do you know who paved the way for them Cicely Lewis I began Read Woke Books to challenge social norms and to share stories of people from underrepresented and oppressed groups In this series you will be introduced to lesser known athletes and the barriers they overcame to make great changes in sports Sports is more than a game Throughout history sports have been a way to help fight injustices in our world As you read think about how the actions athletes have made in their sports have impacted the world I hope these books inspire you to never give up Someone has to take the first step and it might as well be you Power to the Reader Cicely Lewis Executive Editor
6 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE FINAL STEP CHAPTER 1 BREAKING BARRIERS 4 CHAPTER 2 QUARTERBACK QUEST 12 CHAPTER 3 SIDELINE PROGRESS CHAPTER 4 LEGACY OF CHANGE Glossary Index 28 29 18 22
60 49 49 4 Wide receiver Bobby Mitchell catches a pass before making a touchdown during a 1967 game THE FINAL STEP Much of the US was segregated for decades Laws forbade Black people from using the same places as white people such as schools Sports were segregated too But by 1955 only one team in the National Football League NFL had not integrated The Washington Redskins were owned by George Preston Marshall a white man Even though his team struggled to win games he refused to add Black players In 1961 the federal government had enough They refused LONGINES
to let Washington play in their new stadium until the team integrated Marshall had no choice Before the 1962 season he traded for wide receiver Bobby Mitchell Mitchell's first game with Washington was one to remember He weaved through the Dallas Cowboys defense for a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown He later joined the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. Like many of the people in this book his impact and courage are part of the proud legacy of Black people in football 49 Mitchell shown in 1962 played four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and seven seasons with Washington IMPORTANT NOTE The Washington Redskins were renamed the Washington Commanders in 2022. Redskin is an offensive term for Native Americans 5
