Overview

African-American Athletes in Arkansas is an inspirational collection of stories about amazing Arkansans who helped change the nation. Much of the information comes from firsthand interviews. The narrative non-fiction features include: 1) The inspiring story behind a ""Jackie Robinson of the NBA"" -- ""Sweetwater"" Clifton, who grew up in Lonoke County, Ark., attended DuSable High in Chicago and then starred for the New York Knicks 2) The amazing story of the would-be Razorback pioneer Eddie Miles, who went on to star for Seattle University and the Detroit Pistons 3) How five Arkansan African Americans helped fuel the Green Bay Packers' NFL dynasty of the 1960s 4) How Satchel Paige, the great Negro Leagues icon, and Dizzy Dean, the St. Louis Cardinals superstar, helped lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement 5) How black Arkansas natives helped power a championship baseball team against all-white competition in Butte, Montana in the Great Depression 6) An in-depth look at Muhammad Ali's 1969 college lecture tour through Pine Bluff, Little Rock and Fayetteville and the controversy it sparked. ... and much, more more. This one-of-a-kind anthology, which also showcases an original feature on Fayetteville's forgotten ""Black Razorbacks"" of the Great Depression, includes articles from Slate, Arkansas Life, the Arkansas Times and more. It is a must read for all Arkansas history and sports fans!

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9780999008317

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Reviews

Demirel's storytelling is enticing and fluid, which makes him the perfect guide to walk readers through the riveting racial history of sport in Arkansas. This is a hugely important, complicated, and beautiful book, both disturbing and inspiring. --Rus Bradburd, author of Forty Minutes of Hell: The Extraordinary Life of Nolan Richardson Going beyond the title, this book stresses the relationships between Arkansan African Americans and whites alike. Yes, the hook is sports, but the subject matter is wide-ranging, weaving together regional and national historical strands of education, religion, politics, economics and civil rights. I recommend it as a resource for all Arkansas high school (and even middle school) administrators. They should seriously look at it as a learning tool for their students. --Dr. John L Colbert, Associate Superintendent for Support Services, Fayetteville Public Schools Evin Demirel is one of my favorite young sportswriters... He has written for a lot of publications and websites, The New York Times, Deadspin and this newspaper among them. A graceful writer who brings seriousness and an uncommon alertness to history and culture to his work, Demirel's chief concern is bringing fresh, under-reported stories to light. In the age of the hot take, where self-branding and marketing seem fundamental to the pursuit of any media career, Demirel stands out for his commitment to honest journalism. So it's not difficult to recommend his new book... It is, as advertised, a deeply compelling survey of the heretofore neglected history of black athletes in 20th-century Arkansas. --Philip Martin, cultural critic for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Really well written, informative stories about the Arkansas greats and people who paved the way for my dad, Almer Lee, Martin Terry and others.... It will speak to athletes, coaches and history lovers across the state and region, and should be read by Razorback fans of all backgrounds. But its reach should be wider--it's national history as well. --Fayetteville native Ronnie Brewer, two-time All-SEC Razorbacks basketball player Sports teaches so much about life--giving your best, the power of a team, unity and love. I wish America could live that way. I hope many more get to read this refreshing journey.... it's a book every sports fan in Arkansas should read. --Helena native Ken Hatfield, Razorbacks head football coach 1998-2007 It brought back memories of growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood and the Arkansas School for the Deaf where my parents taught skin color blindness for 34 years. A really good read about African-American men, like my coach Eddie Boone, who journeyed through the state's history and some of the steps they had to take for the next generation. --Little Rock native Houston Nutt, Razorbacks head football coach 1998-2007

Demirel's storytelling is enticing and fluid, which makes him the perfect guide to walk readers through the riveting racial history of sport in Arkansas. This is a hugely important, complicated, and beautiful book, both disturbing and inspiring. --Rus Bradburd, author of Forty Minutes of Hell: The Extraordinary Life of Nolan Richardson Going beyond the title, this book stresses the relationships between Arkansan African Americans and whites alike. Yes, the hook is sports, but the subject matter is wide-ranging, weaving together regional and national historical strands of education, religion, politics, economics and civil rights. I recommend it as a resource for all Arkansas high school (and even middle school) administrators. They should seriously look at it as a learning tool for their students. --Dr. John L Colbert, Associate Superintendent for Support Services, Fayetteville Public Schools Evin Demirel is one of my favorite young sportswriters... He has written for a lot of publications and websites, The New York Times, Deadspin and this newspaper among them. A graceful writer who brings seriousness and an uncommon alertness to history and culture to his work, Demirel's chief concern is bringing fresh, under-reported stories to light. In the age of the hot take, where self-branding and marketing seem fundamental to the pursuit of any media career, Demirel stands out for his commitment to honest journalism.So it's not difficult to recommend his new book... It is, as advertised, a deeply compelling survey of the heretofore neglected history of black athletes in 20th-century Arkansas. --Philip Martin, cultural critic for the Arkansas Democrat-GazetteReally well written, informative stories about the Arkansas greats and people who paved the way for my dad, Almer Lee, Martin Terry and others.... It will speak to athletes, coaches and history lovers across the state and region, and should be read by Razorback fans of all backgrounds. But its reach should be wider--it's national history as well. --Fayetteville native Ronnie Brewer, two-time All-SEC Razorbacks basketball player Sports teaches so much about life--giving your best, the power of a team, unity and love. I wish America could live that way. I hope many more get to read this refreshing journey.... it's a book every sports fan in Arkansas should read. --Helena native Ken Hatfield, Razorbacks head football coach 1998-2007 It brought back memories of growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood and the Arkansas School for the Deaf where my parents taught skin color blindness for 34 years. A really good read about African-American men, like my coach Eddie Boone, who journeyed through the state's history and some of the steps they had to take for the next generation. --Little Rock native Houston Nutt, Razorbacks head football coach 1998-2007

Author Information

Evin Demirel, a former Latin teacher and award-winning feature writer for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, has written for the likes of the New York Times, Daily Beast, SLAM magazine and Deadspin. The Little Rock native graduated from LR Central High and the University of Arkansas.

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