{"id":1228,"date":"2018-12-31T16:18:31","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T16:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=1228"},"modified":"2018-12-31T16:18:31","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T16:18:31","slug":"introducing-lone-star-lits-newest-feature-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.etypegoogle10.com\/?p=1228","title":{"rendered":"introducing LONE STAR LIT\u2019S NEWEST FEATURE"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LONE STAR LISTENS interviews\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>>> archive<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

Author interviews by Kay Ellington<\/span><\/h1>\n

2.18.2018\u00a0 Michael Hurd of Prairie View A&M tells the story of black football in Texas<\/h1>\n

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For three decades he’s been writing books about inspiring and underappreciated stories<\/span> of African-American football. Now, the author of <\/span>Thursday Night Lights: The Story of Black High School Football in Texas<\/span> (University of Texas Press, 2017), will be inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in April, and he’s been a part of the most notable book festivals across the state. Michael Hurd kicks off the Texas Writers Series in Abilene this week, and he talks with us via email for Lone Star Listens.<\/span><\/p>\n

LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE: <\/span>Where did you grow up, Michael, and how would you describe those days?<\/span><\/p>\n

MICHAEL HURD: <\/span>I was born in Texarkana, Texas side (!). Despite the segregation in the 1950s, I look back at that as the best time in my life. We had a wonderful family centered around my maternal grandmother \u2014 my \u201cBig Momma!\u201d There was always somebody to give you a hug, or tell you to get me a switch!, or offer a lap to sit in, or walk with you to church every Sunday. My grandmother, Ellen Baxter, my uncles and aunts, cousins were the best people I\u2019ve ever known. Solid human beings who loved family, loved kids, and were well-respected in the community. It was such a loving and supportive environment. We moved to Houston when I was ten, and I was mad at my parents for the longest time because I didn\u2019t understand why we had to move, why we had to leave that.<\/p>\n

How old were you when you first played football, and what position did you play?<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t participate in team sports at school, but played sandlot games \u2014 touch football, sometimes tackle, basketball, Little League baseball. I started playing those sports early on with my friends, and we\u2019d have neighborhood teams that played against neighborhood rivals.\u00a0 >>READ MORE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Texas’s only statewide, weekly calendar of book events
<\/span><\/a><\/span>Bookish Texas <\/span>event highlights\u00a0 2.18.2018<\/span>>> GO this week<\/span><\/a><\/span>Michelle Newby, Contributing Editor<\/span><\/h1>\n

SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEK<\/span><\/p>\n