evo·lu·tion n. 1. the gradual process of change over time
On February 12, 2023 history was made. On the biggest stage in professional sports, for the first time two Black quarterbacks faced off in Superbowl LVII. To the casual onlooker this may just be an interesting statistic but to Black men (especially Black male athletes) this was redemption after decades of being denied the opportunity to play the position.
From Fritz Pollard to Patrick Mahomes, Evolution Of The Black Quarterback unflinchingly examines the struggles of Black men as they chase their dream of playing the most prestigious position in professional football. Host Michael Vick, a premiere quarterback in his own right, conducts interviews with various veterans of the game. These living legends recall their experiences with racism on and off the field.
He also sits down with other celebrities such as Common and Jamie Foxx to talk about the intersection of culture and football. In between the interviews, media personalities, professors and journalists give points of reference to the struggles of Black folks and how social change mirrors changes in professional football.
The opening montage said it all. Images of civil rights icons flash across the screen along with archival footage of Black football players. In the background there are sound bytes of bigoted rhetoric and memorable civil rights speeches.
Most documentaries have a visual aesthetic that underscores the content. Evolution succeeds in creating something visually interesting yet subtle. There was a stylized background that enhanced the experience. The soundtrack also achieved this musically. From Kendrick Lamar to James Brown, R&B to Gospel, there was an intentional playlist of inspiring songs that could stand on its own.
One sour note was the interviews with Caucasian coaches and veteran QB Steve Young. Although the coaches deserve an honorable mention since they are the ones who field the team, they really didn’t add anything to the overall theme of the project. When asked directly why there was rampant discrimination in the NFL, Joe Gibbs equivocated. If you’re going to appear in a documentary about racism, you should probably talk about racism.
The last few minutes had nothing to do with football. It became a discussion about civil rights in general. The contributors spoke about the challenges of Black athletes through the decades and how their struggles are shared by all of us blessed to be melanated. You can still hear the despair of Colin Kerpenick as he talks about his experience.
As football season begins, let us be reminded of all the racialized criticism, death threats and general disdain endured by men who entertain us week after week. When the game is over, we go back to our lives but they continue to bear the scars long after the final whistle is blown.
