Synopses & Reviews
A classic NFL/civil rights story—the showdown between the Washington Redskins and the Kennedy White House
In Showdown, sports historian Thomas G. Smith captures a striking moment, one that held sweeping implications not only for one team’s racist policy but also for a sharply segregated city and for the nation as a whole. Part sports history, part civil rights story, this compelling and untold narrative serves as a powerful lens onto racism in sport, illustrating how, in microcosm, the fight to desegregate the Redskins was part of a wider struggle against racial injustice in America.
About the Author
Author of two books, Thomas G. Smith is a member of the history program at Nichols College. He lives in Dudley, Massachusetts, and is a fervent fan of the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Table of Contents
ContentsPrologue: “Redskins Told: Integrate or Else”
1) Boston Beginnings
2) Out of Bounds
3) The Redskins March
4) Leveling the Field
5) The Washington Whiteskins
6) The Owner, the Journalist, and the Hustler
7) The Black Blitz
8) The New Frontier
9) Showdown
10) Hail Victory
11) Running Out the Clock
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes on Sources
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index