Kneel by Candace Buford

 


Russell Boudreaux is a captain and star tight end on his Louisiana high school football team. This year he plans on helping his team go all the way, especially after suffering a brutal loss to his school's closest rivals in last year's playoffs. As in navigating the normal high school life and grueling football season wasn't enough, Russell's world is rocked when there is a shooting of an unarmed black star basketball player in a neighboring town. No charges are filed against the officer; rather, he is simply transferred to the station which monitors Russell's town!

Racial tensions are high, but come to a head when a pre-game altercation occurs between Russell's team and their all-white rival. Punches are thrown, the game is called, and only Russell's star Black quarterback, Marion, is arrested. Russell simply can't believe the injustice of it all when it was clear that it was the white players who started it, not to mention the white officials who said nothing when the white police made the arrest! 

After Marion's suspension amid criminal charges, and the murder of the star basketball player, Russell makes the decision to make a silent protest. He kneels for the next game's National Anthem.  While it is a decision made with only the best of intentions, the consequences of this singular act will alter not only his life and future, but that of the whole town!

This is really a thought-provoking book. I am really curious to see and hear what my students think about it once it is released!

-TK

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