Rites of Autumn

Rites of Autumn- Acrylic, 19" x 13" by Greg Newbold

With Fall football in full swing, I though it appropriate to show this piece I did for Boys' Life magazine a while ago. Ironically, the article sat in the archive for quite some time before it found a home in last month's September issue. The story was a bit of a period piece that told the story of two young men and the conflict that arose from the Caucasian boy's school (and hence his football team)deciding to integrate the African American kids in the 1960's. In this scene, the white players confront what they think is an invasion to their team by the young  African American player, while his new found friend decides to side with him. It was a turbulent time and one that seems all to soon forgotten or worse yet unknown by many of today's generation. I admit to not having lived through much of it, but I greatly respect the young people who battled to diminish race discrimination in this country.Many of their stories should be required reading in today's schools.