By Jim Holt
2019, 253 pp
Red Lightning Press
As a college sophomore at Indiana University in the late 70s, Dawn Knight enrolled in a class on social justice being taught by a Professor George Taliaferro. She had no idea of his background and only later came to know him as an inspiration, a trailblazer, and a personal friend.
In "Race and Football in America", Knight writes a complimentary biography of Taliaferro, the football player and man. Growing up in a relatively color-blind, integrated Gary, Indiana, neighborhood, Taliaferro had to adjust to the racial policy (at the time) of segregated schooling.
His high school football teams could only compete against black schools, leaving George, the star player, virtually invisible (and certainly ineligible) for Indiana HS Sports recognition. Nevertheless, his prowess on the field earned him a scholarship to Indiana University, where he starred as a freshman, leading the Hoosiers, along with Pete Pihos and Ted Kluszewski, to a 9-0-1 record, their sole undefeated season prior to 2025.
College interrupted his military service (this was the 1940s); he returned to Indiana in 1947. Author Knight writes extensively about the segregated conditions in Bloomington and IU during Taliaferro’s time there, and provides numerous examples where George quietly but firmly leveraged his gridiron celebrity to break norms and open doors for people of color.
The post-WWII evolution of pro football provided opportunity for African American players unknown since the 1920s ... Taliaferro had verbally committed to the AAFC Los Angeles Dons, when he learned that he was the first black player ever drafted by the NFL (Chicago). The Bears had been his dream team as a schoolboy, but true to his word, he signed with and played for the Dons in 1949.
Knight shares highlights of Taliaferro’s circuitous pro career; as PFJ and readers know, after the merger, he spent 1950 and '51 with the New York Yanks, 1952 with the legendary (star-crossed) Dallas Texans, was an early hero for the 1953-54 Baltimore Colts, and when injuries hobbled him, had a cup of coffee with the 1955 Eagles before hanging it up.
"Race and Football in America" doesn’t delve deeply into a season-by-season detailing of his career, but rather stresses his contribution to breaking down the racial barriers existing in the game at the time. Notwithstanding, she makes the case for his football greatness. As many on this board are aware, the 1940 (7-5) Yanks excepted, he played the rest of his career on some of the worst teams in NFL history, compiling a total record of 16 wins and 53 losses.
Despite running for most of his career behind "suspect" blocking, George averaged 4.5 yards per carry over his 7 years. He was named to the Pro Bowl the first 3 years it existed, and was second-team All-Pro for the woeful Texans. Interestingly, he consistently denied that he was the first black NFL quarterback, always naming the (1953) Bears' Willie Thrower as the first. As he explained, "I did throw 96 passes in the NFL, but always from the halfback or tailback position. Thrower was the first under center."
When his playing days ended, Taliaferro struggled to find a place in the world unrelated to his athletic exploits; Knight walks us through his journey, gravitating towards social work, and his time concentrating on prison populations. Later, he became Dean of Students at Morgan State University, moved on (or back) to IU, where he served for years as Special Assistant to the President.
College interrupted his military service (this was the 1940s); he returned to Indiana in 1947. Author Knight writes extensively about the segregated conditions in Bloomington and IU during Taliaferro’s time there, and provides numerous examples where George quietly but firmly leveraged his gridiron celebrity to break norms and open doors for people of color.
The post-WWII evolution of pro football provided opportunity for African American players unknown since the 1920s ... Taliaferro had verbally committed to the AAFC Los Angeles Dons, when he learned that he was the first black player ever drafted by the NFL (Chicago). The Bears had been his dream team as a schoolboy, but true to his word, he signed with and played for the Dons in 1949.
Knight shares highlights of Taliaferro’s circuitous pro career; as PFJ and readers know, after the merger, he spent 1950 and '51 with the New York Yanks, 1952 with the legendary (star-crossed) Dallas Texans, was an early hero for the 1953-54 Baltimore Colts, and when injuries hobbled him, had a cup of coffee with the 1955 Eagles before hanging it up.
"Race and Football in America" doesn’t delve deeply into a season-by-season detailing of his career, but rather stresses his contribution to breaking down the racial barriers existing in the game at the time. Notwithstanding, she makes the case for his football greatness. As many on this board are aware, the 1940 (7-5) Yanks excepted, he played the rest of his career on some of the worst teams in NFL history, compiling a total record of 16 wins and 53 losses.
Despite running for most of his career behind "suspect" blocking, George averaged 4.5 yards per carry over his 7 years. He was named to the Pro Bowl the first 3 years it existed, and was second-team All-Pro for the woeful Texans. Interestingly, he consistently denied that he was the first black NFL quarterback, always naming the (1953) Bears' Willie Thrower as the first. As he explained, "I did throw 96 passes in the NFL, but always from the halfback or tailback position. Thrower was the first under center."
When his playing days ended, Taliaferro struggled to find a place in the world unrelated to his athletic exploits; Knight walks us through his journey, gravitating towards social work, and his time concentrating on prison populations. Later, he became Dean of Students at Morgan State University, moved on (or back) to IU, where he served for years as Special Assistant to the President.
Ever involved in civil rights, he feuded with football coach Lee Corso over perceived double standards for African American athletes, and finished his career at Indiana as Special Assistant and lecturer in the School of Social Work. Taliaferro passed away in October 2019 at the age of 89; as Knight frames it,
"his was a life well lived."
Overall, this is a fine biography of a significant person in pro football history. Knight takes great pains to connect Taliaferro’s experience with the challenges of black players that followed. In the reviewer's view, the 25-40 pages recounting Marlin Briscoe, Colin Kaepernick, et al. are irrelevant to Taliaferro’s story. Consider it a respectful disagreement with the author and overall a minor quibble. One very much appreciates the large number of photographs that enhance the narrative and portray the protagonist in so many different lights.
A fine read. Grade: B
"his was a life well lived."
Overall, this is a fine biography of a significant person in pro football history. Knight takes great pains to connect Taliaferro’s experience with the challenges of black players that followed. In the reviewer's view, the 25-40 pages recounting Marlin Briscoe, Colin Kaepernick, et al. are irrelevant to Taliaferro’s story. Consider it a respectful disagreement with the author and overall a minor quibble. One very much appreciates the large number of photographs that enhance the narrative and portray the protagonist in so many different lights.
A fine read. Grade: B
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