Greene County High School hosted a special and historic event on Dec. 9 in its lunchroom. Greene County alumni and famous college football writer Tony Barnhart hosted a signing for his new book, “ The 19 of Greene,” about the first integrated football team in 1970 at GCHS.

Noted sportswriter and college football TV personality Tony Barnhart presented his new book, The 19 of Greene: Football, Friendship, and Change in the Fall of 1970 to a packed house Dec. 5 as the final “Meet the Author” guest of the year for the Georgia Writers Museum (GWM).

“Transported … that’s the word … I was utterly transported!” I found myself repeating those words as I pondered this book review of The 19 of Greene by Tony Barnhart. I am not exaggerating.

One of the most important tools for easing the chaotic challenge of school integration in the U.S. was athletics. Since a winning athletic team was typically a source of community pride, integrated athletic teams helped pave the way for an understanding of racial differences and a respect for diversity.

From Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird to Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, there have been many great books written about the challenges of racial integration.