Documentary

[Alpha Male]

I'm an aspiring filmmaker and I plan on making a documentary
about great white highschool football players who are repeatedly
discriminated against and not given opportunity to play. I plan
doing this after my next project and I will use the players from
highschool talked about on this site. How powerful will it
be when I document white players being told they are the wrong
color to play running back. I plan on traveling around New York
and Penn. It's going to be quite a while before I can do this and
I didnt want to tell anyone about it but I had a long talk with other
filmmakers, my mother, and some other parents of highschool football
players and they all want to see this film made. It will def push
buttons and smack some sense into this country. Equal opportunity for all!

Edited by: Alpha Male

 

[Bronk]

Alpha Male, good luck on your project. As someone who once worked in media, I am glad to see someone with your views making films, it is a vital medium. Texas would be a good place for you to find such players. In fact, Craig James, who teamed at SMU with Eric Dickerson in the early 1980s to form the "Pony Express" backfield would be a good source. He talked often about how difficult it was for him to get any attention as a white back.

 

[jaxvid]

Alpha Male,

sounds like a tremendous idea. Please let me know how I can help. I think the film would be a winner because people always like to see the cause of the underdog championed.

 

[sport historian]

It's been a long time, but I remember a SI article about James and Dickerson when they were at SMU in the early 80's. James was quoted as saying something like, "I wanted to prove that a white boy can play running back in the SWC."

 

[Bronk]

Historian, the quote I remember from that article -- or one like it -- was "I have NEVER been caught from behind." James was a good, tough back.

I have never met Craig James but I played against him in high school and we have some friends in common. I followed his career with interest.

 

[sport historian]

Bronk, thanks for your comment. I definately remember James making the quote I mentioned in the SI article

 

[KG2422]

Good luck on your film! The BNP, in the UK, is coming out with a documentary on hate crimes against whites in their country that are underreported. Films like these can help turn the tide.Edited by: KG2422

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I would be the first to buy a copy, AlphaMale! That will be a good project.

 

[Kaptain]

Sounds like a great idea. You definetely would have enough interest on the audience end. I'm a little worried that the mainstream media would never let air. There are all sorts of stupid documentaries airing on the cable tv movie channels these days. I just don't think any of them have the balls to air a documentary on this topic. I hope it works out. You should include a plug for caste football.

 

[Alpha Male]

Thanks for all the support guys. Documentaries are hot right
now. Supersize Me and Murderball did quite well in theaters and
there is a bunch more out there.



I was discussing this topci with my mother and she recalls my
highschool football days when we played all black teams from NYC.
We are a farily small town in upstate and she remembers black mother's
yelling "hit that white boy, get him." She was nervous for our
team but remembers that we hit much harder and the black players
just seemed to crumple. We lost some and won some against all
black teams that had alot more talent in numbers to tap into (our town
is less than 30, 000). Is there any reason why these same white
players couldn't compete against these black teams who often get beat
by white teams? The answere is no. And this is why this
film needs to be made.



Since I am currently in acting/film school I wont have time to make
this film until next year's highschool football season. What I
need from this site is to continue posting articles about star white
highschool players and what town and state they play for, etc.
Also, any recommendations or thoughts on this project would be greatly
appreciated.

 

[Alpha Male]

Hey Bronk,



is there anyway you could find out James and Dickerson's contact
info(where they live, number, etc.) I think starting off
interviewing these two players would be great. Firstly though, I
plan on showing the color coded transition from through the 50's, 60's,
70's and 80's all the way up to the present day.

 

[white lightning]

I'm glad you are serious about doing this next year Alpha Male.This story needs to be told.You might want to also add about the college and NFL guys too.You could center the story about running backs but maybe also bring up cornerbacks,receivers,etc.By far though,running back and cornerback are the worst as far as racism goes.Good luck on this A.Male.

 

[Bronk]

Alpha:

James should be easy to contact. He lives in Celina, Texas which is such a small town that you should be able to look his address up easily. Also, since he is an analyst for ABC Sports, you might find it better to try him there.

Dickerson would be a bit harder to find. He likely still has relatives in Sealy, Texas, you could look there, but try the SMU sports information department, or the St. Louis Rams, they might have some good contact information.

Go to this site: http://www.unt.edu/50yearsofprogress/recollections.htm it is an oral history portion of the University of North Texas website that has some interesting info on the first blacks to play football at an all-white Texas university (Abner Haynes & Leon King in 1956).

If I'm not overloading you, I'd like to suggest a book. It features a Texas slant, but the race aspect (as is the overall point) is somewhat universal. First, "Pigskin Pulpit: A Social History of Texas High School Football " by Ty Cashion. This is a terrific book that puts high school football in the context of the changing world.