Gridiron Underground. James R. Wallen

Gridiron Underground - James R. Wallen

Covers the history of black football players moving to Canada to find opportunities denied them in the United States, from the 1940s to the present day Begins in the early days of the integration of football, introducing athletes who broke the colour barrier in Canada from coast to coast An in-depth look at an era where the NFL accepted black athletes, but not in leadership positions, prompting many to pursue quarterback careers north of the border Also looks at the present day, and why Canada continues to be a viable alternative to black players facing prejudice in the US The 2015 Grey Cup drew 10 million viewers, proving the CFL is alive and well and die-hard fans are hungry for serious coverage of their league, its players, and their history The snubbing of quarterback Colin Kaepernick demonstrates the continuing relevance of this story as racial injustice is one of the biggest topics in sport