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Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game
CCBC Review:
In 1944, the Duke University Medical School basketball team played a secret game against five members of the Eagles from the North Carolina College of Negroes in defiance of segregation laws. The match was arranged by Eagles coach John McLendon, who had an African American father and Delaware Indian mother, and believed an interracial game could help erase prejudice. The Eagles blew out Duke with a final score of 88 to 44, dominating the play with their new fast-break attacking style. A second game of shirts and skins followed, with players from both teams mixing to make a more evenly matched competition. In a post-game gathering at the Eagles’ dormitory, all players agreed to keep the game secret in order to protect one another and Coach McLendon from legal liability or social retribution. A concluding sentence of this captivating story pays tribute to Coach McLendon and the players of both teams who “were years ahead of their time” on the road to athletic racial integration. ©2015 Cooperative Children's Book CenterIllustrated by Randy DuBurke
Wisconsin author
John Coy was born in Minneapolis but spent much of his childhood (1966-1977) in Eau Claire, where he graduated from high school. He now lives in Minneapolis.
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 6-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
20th Century
African Americans
Delaware People
Discrimination and Prejudice
First/Native Nations
History (Nonfiction)
Racism
Sports
Diversity subjects:
Black/African
Indigenous
Publisher:
Carolrhoda
Publish Year: 2015
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781467726047
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 796 Coy