By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Author: Seth Wickersham, Copyright: c.2025, Publisher: Hyperion Avenue, Price: $29.99, Page Count: 407 pages

Snap.

And with that, and a catch that’s picture-perfect, your team is on its way to another win. The guy that threw the football sure knows his stuff. He’s worth every penny he’s paid, and in the new book “American Kings” by Seth Wickersham, you’ll see what it took to get there.

Like so many little boys, Wickersham wanted to play pro football when he was growing up; specifically, he wanted to be a quarterback. Unlike most other boys, though, he took it to an extreme, becoming “obsessed” with throwing a football with the best accuracy, hoping to match the skills of the players he admired.

Alas, despite an entire childhood of near-constant practice and a few wins on the field in high school, he didn’t make varsity and ended up playing as a receiver.

He knows now that to be a quarterback is to be a star, but it’s also “a way of life.”

Here, he writes about Arch Manning, “a legend, a folk hero, a song title… and the beginning of a family franchise…” Wickersham shares the story of Warren Moon, how he stepped up to help his mother when his father died, how domestic violence almost derailed his legacy, and the racism he quarterbacked under for years.

He spent time with Caleb Williams, “the first true professional amateur quarterback” to get money for playing at the college level. He interviewed James Harris, who was prepared to become a teacher “If the league didn’t want a Black quarterback…”  Wickersham “spent much of 2022 with” Andrew Luck, who “learned quickly that greatness requires an… unlimited selfishness.” He writes about how Jack Elway influenced his son’s choice of career, what Hollywood had to do with one pro footballer’s life, and the post-career of the first player “to throw a consistently beautiful spiral.”

Says Wickersham about his subjects, “Anyone could throw a football. Only a quarterback could make people cheer.”

Your favorite chair is oiled for smooth reclining and fast slam-downs. The snacks are laid in for at least a week, and beverages are on ice. You know exactly what you’re wearing for the game this weekend. All you need is “American Kings” and you’re set.

Wickersham calls his book “a biography,” but it’s just as much a history, since he refers often to the earliest days of the game, as well as the etymology of the word “quarterback.”  That helps to lay a solid background, and it adds color to a reader’s knowledge about football itself, while explaining what it takes for men and women to stand out and to achieve gridiron greatness. On that. Wickersham is honest, sometimes calling out his subjects for their attitudes toward teammates and others. Blunt words are used that are unprintable in family newspapers, so beware if you’re sharing.

Is your team’s QB in this book? Maybe. But, more than likely, a past favorite is, So, check out “American Kings” and see what you find. Football fans and pigskin prognosticators both will love this book in a snap.

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By Tamara Shiloh

Benjamin Banneker was an extraordinary man who lived in the 1700s, a time when life was very difficult for African Americans. He was born on Nov. 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland, and grew up on his family’s 100-acre farm near what is now Ellicott City. Unlike many Black people of his time who were enslaved, Banneker was born free. Still, being a free Black man in a slave state came with many challenges. Despite those obstacles, he became a respected mathematician, astronomer, inventor, writer, and farmer.

Banneker learned to read and write at a Quaker school that welcomed both Black and White children — something very rare in the 1700s. He loved to learn, especially about math and science, and continued to study on his own throughout his life. Books and careful observation of nature became his teachers. After his father passed away, he took over the family farm and managed it successfully.

One of Banneker’s most amazing accomplishments was building a working clock made entirely of wood. He carefully studied the inside of a watch, then carved each piece of the clock by hand. The clock was so well made that it kept time for decades, ringing a bell on the hour. This invention brought him attention and showed his incredible skill and determination.

Banneker was also fascinated by the night sky. He taught himself astronomy and studied the movement of the stars and planets. In 1789, he correctly predicted a solar eclipse, even when some famous scientists of the time thought he was wrong. This proved his intelligence and earned him great respect.

He went on to create and publish an almanac for ten years. His almanac included tide tables, information about the moon and stars, and even useful medical tips. It was the first scientific book published by an African American. His work inspired many people, especially African Americans, to see that they too could succeed in science and learning.

In 1791, President George Washington chose a site along the Potomac River to build the new U.S. capital city — what we now know as Washington, D.C. A team of surveyors was chosen to measure the land and set the boundaries. Banneker, who was friends with George Ellicott, was invited to join the team. He used his knowledge of the stars to help establish the south corner boundary stone at Jones Point in Alexandria.

Even though he had to stop working with the team because of his health, his contribution to building the nation’s capital was an important part of his legacy.

Banneker passed away on Oct. 9, 1806. Sadly, much of his work was lost in a fire shortly after his death. Still, his influence continues to this day. Schools, parks, and community centers have been named after him in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

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By Antoinette Porter

Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and their guests gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union at the University of California, Berkeley, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sorority’s Farwest Region.

The region was established in 1925 under the leadership of Vivian Osborne Marsh, who became its first Regional Director. Marsh was a pioneering scholar and civic leader, earning recognition as the first Black woman to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley.

Marsh went on to serve as Delta Sigma Theta’s 7th National President, where she launched the sorority’s National Library Project to expand access to books in underserved Black communities in the South. During her presidency, the organization also became a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, lobbying Congress to pass anti-lynching legislation.

Bak in the Bay Area, Marsh devoted her career to advancing educational opportunities, mentoring young people, and strengthening community life. That commitment continues to shape the region, which supports initiatives in education, social justice, and economic development. Current projects include raising scholarship funds for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, voter education campaigns, and health and wellness programs.

A century after its founding, the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta remains active across California and other western states, carrying forward Marsh’s vision of service and advocacy.

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