
By Jael Ealey Richardson MFA, Matt James (Illustrator)
A quarterback defies segregation, unbeaten but barred from the pros.
Chuck Ealey, an African-American quarterback from a segregated Ohio neighborhood, defies the odds with an unbeaten record in high school and university. Despite his talent, racial barriers prevent him from playing professional football in the U.S. His journey, marked by resilience against discrimination, is a testament to determination and hope. Will Chuck's undefeated spirit find a way to triumph beyond the field?
African-American football player Chuck Ealey grew up in a segregated neighborhood of Portsmouth, Ohio. Against all odds, he became an incredible quarterback. But despite his unbeaten record in high school and university, he would never play professional football in the United States. Chuck Ealey grew up poor in a racially segregated community, but his mother assured him that he wouldn’t stay in Portsmouth forever. Education was the way out, and a football scholarship was the way to pay for that education. So despite the racist taunts he faced at all the games he played in high school, Chuck maintained a remarkable level of dedication and determination. And when discrimination followed him to university and beyond, Chuck Ealey remained undefeated. This inspirational story is told by Chuck Ealey’s daughter, author and educator Jael Richardson, with striking and powerful illustrations by award-winning illustrator Matt James.
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