Kneel

by Candace Buford

Football, protest, and the cost of speaking up

Regular price $17.09 USD
Regular price $28.49 USD Sale price $17.09 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

Football, protest, and the cost of speaking up

Set in a small Louisiana town, the story connects a young athlete’s hopes for a football scholarship with questions of racism and justice. When his best friend is unfairly arrested and removed from the team, Russell Boudreaux must decide whether to stay silent. His decision to kneel during the national anthem shifts his position from local star to target, placing self-expression and the pursuit of opportunity alongside the consequences of public protest. The premise brings together school sports, friendship, and a demand for recognition in a contemporary young adult story.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teens and young adults interested in stories about racism, injustice, and self-expression.
  • Readers drawn to young adult fiction centered on football, friendship, and difficult choices.
  • Those interested in narratives about protest and the pursuit of equity.

Themes

Racism and injusticeProtest and self-expressionFriendshipAthletic ambitionEquity and recognition

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"A must read. 10/10." --Broderick Hunter, actor, model, and activist

This fearless debut novel explores racism, injustice, and self-expression through the story of a promising Black football star in Louisiana.

The system is rigged.

For guys like Russell Boudreaux, football is the only way out of their small town. As the team's varsity tight end, Rus has a singular goal: to get a scholarship and play on the national stage. But when his best friend is unfairly arrested and kicked off the team, Rus faces an impossible choice: speak up or live in fear.

"Please rise for the national anthem."

Desperate for change, Rus kneels during the national anthem. In one instant, he falls from local stardom and becomes a target for hatred. But he's not alone. With the help of his best friend and an unlikely ally, Rus will fight for his dreams, and for justice.


"A gripping story about what it looks like when we demand equity, justice, and recognition of our own humanity." --Kalynn Bayron, author of Cinderella Is Dead
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