Gerald Ensley: New book shows FAMU Jake Gaither's role in black equality

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Jake Gaither was not an Uncle Tom.

That’s one of the lessons of the new book, “Breaking the Line,” by Samuel Freedman — who paints a compelling new portrait of the late Florida A&M football coach.

It was Gaither, who arranged the state’s first football game between predominantly black and white college football teams — FAMU vs. University of Tampa in 1969 — which struck one of the most important blows for racial equality in Florida history.



“I think the record should show (Gaither) stepped up and did something hugely important,” Freedman said. “You can argue whether he should have stepped up sooner or more publicly. But when he did it, he did it in an immensely important way.”

Freedman, 58, is a celebrated New York Times columnist and author of four acclaimed books about education and religion. Freedman was in Tallahassee last week to speak at a Florida State University lecture series.

“Breaking the Line” is about two important events in black college football history: the purposeful development by Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson of the first black NFL quarterback, James Harris; and the FAMU-Tampa game.

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