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The Great Black Hope

Doug Williams, Vince Evans, and the Making of the Black Quarterback

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The Great Black Hope

By: Louis Moore
Narrated by: Leon Nixon
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About this listen

The story of two pioneering Black NFL football players that changed the face of America’s game for generations to come.

There is no position in pro sports more important than an NFL quarterback. But quarterbacking was the exclusive domain of white players for many years, and when Doug Williams and Vince Evans arrived in the league in the late 1970s, they got death threats, faced racist questions, and knew that a single mistake could end their careers. The Great Black Hope tells the twin stories of Vince Evans, an electrifying dual-threat quarterback ahead of his time, and of Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to become a champion. Moore shows how easily Williams' triumphant story could have gone wrong and how his success changed the game and the country.

A skillful blend of game-time drama and social commentary, this book captures unheralded heroes of the NFL and all that they meant, both on the field and off.

©2024 Louis Moore (P)2024 PublicAffairs Football Sociology of Sports Sports
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Critic reviews

“Like a sharp pass zipped into the hands of a speedy receiver, Lou Moore hits his target in stride with The Great Black Hope. This is one of those delicious books with the ideal match of author and subject. Moore, a preeminent scholar of race and sports, tells the story not only of the historic NFL matchup between Doug Williams and Vince Evans, but of the nearly impenetrable fortress the league had built around the quarterback position that few Black men had been permitted to enter. This is a story that transcends sports, ultimately demonstrating that even the most aggressive attempts to sack Black achievement can’t withstand the opposing forces of persistence, talent, and courage forever. Eventually someone breaks through, and a position or a sport – or a country – is changed forever.”—Andrew Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South
“Dr. Lou Moore is changing the way we understand the intersection of sports and the fight for Black liberation because he is perhaps the best researcher in the field. He understands the historic value of Black media in allowing the subjects of his research to speak for themselves. His book We Will Win the Day was a masterwork of this, weaving the story of desegregation into the world of sports in a manner we had not seen. Now, with The Great Black Hope, Moore is writing about the history of the Black quarterback with a depth of research and analysis that is unmatched.”—Dave Zirin, The Nation
“In this book, Lou Moore doesn't just tell the story of the Black quarterback through football history in ways it's never been told before -- he also seamlessly weaves in football schematics and civil rights to perfectly illustrate everything Black quarterbacks have gone through to get here, from pioneers to the superstars of today.”—Doug Farrar, USA Today Sports
“As with most things in life, sport evolves through time. What is typically missing from the discourse though, is cultural and historical context. In The Great Black Hope, Moore accounts the racial battles, history, and impact of African-American quarterbacks on American professional football."—Shakeia Taylor, Chicago Tribune

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Book Review: The Great Black Hope By Jason Reid

The Great Black Hope is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the journey and impact of Black quarterbacks in the National Football League. Jason Reid takes listeners through decades of challenges, breakthroughs, and triumphs that have reshaped the NFL’s most high-profile position. The book isn’t just about football—it’s about representation, systemic barriers, and the resilience of athletes who refused to be sidelined.

Reid’s storytelling gives voice to pioneers like Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Doug Williams, while connecting their legacies to today’s stars like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. This book is essential for anyone who wants to understand how race intersects with sports and leadership in America.

I highly recommend taking the time to listen to this book. It provides context to today’s NFL and offers a deeper appreciation for the athletes who changed the game—both on and off the field. It’s a must-hear for football fans, students of history, and those passionate about social justice.

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Great Black History

Inspiring book for the upcoming young black athletes in all sports. Thank you Doug Williams and Vince Evans for your courage and strength.

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Great listen

Cannot recommend this enough- Moore does a fantastic job telling these important stories in a manner that is academically rigorous and engaging

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