Did anyone else catch one or both segments? I saw only the second segment which was on yesterday afternoon. There was a tremendous amount of information that was new to me. For example, I had no idea that the Washington Redskins (formerly the Boston Redskins) held out, proudly, to be the last all-white team. The forced move of the AFL All-Star Game out of New Orleans due to racial discrimination was very interesting. All in all, it seemed to be a very well produced documentary. It was great getting to see many of the stars I remember from the 60's teams.
CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR, THIRD AND LONG presented by State Farm
Narrated by 1980’s Public Enemy rapper, author and producer Chuck D, THIRD AND LONG explores and celebrates the history, racial struggles, sacrifices and triumphs of African Americans in professional football from 1946, with the re-integration of the sport after a 13-year exclusion of Black players, through 1989, when Art Shell was named the first Black head coach of the NFL's modern era.
The documentary examines the impact of societal events such as World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, Brown v. Board of Education, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy and the Vietnam War, and adds a unique viewpoint by including the perspectives and experiences of some of the players' wives.
THIRD AND LONG also examines the critical role and contributions of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities during this time period.
