Gene Washington: Through the Banks of the Red Cedar

In this episode, I talk to Maya Washington about her book and documentary – THROUGH THE BANKS OF THE RED CEDAR: MY FATHER AND THE TEAM THAT CHANGED THE GAME. Her father is Gene Washington, a former standout at Michigan State University and a star wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings in the late 60s and early 70s. (Full book description below).

This journey is more than a story about football, though. Gene was recruited from the segregated south to play for the MSU Spartans as a part of the first fully-integrated football team, ultimately changing the landscape of the game.

We dive into many topics in the interview, including:

The story of how Gene Washington was recruited from the segregated south to play for the integrated MSU Spartans for Coach Duffy Daugherty
The impact Coach Duffy Daugherty and MSU President John Hannah had on integrating the football team (and other sports/academics)
A brief glimpse into what it meant for her father to be a part of a National Championship team led by a black quarterback, Jimmy Raye
Where/when Maya is taking my DeLorean
Much more….

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Through the Banks of the Red Cedar Overview

***This summary was provided by Little A publishing. You can find more about the book and documentary at Maya’s site – Through the Banks of the Red Cedar.

Growing up Maya Washington didn’t see her father as the world knew him to be—Michigan State University and Minnesota Viking football legend, Gene Washington—she knew him as dad. Based on Maya’s award-winning documentary, THROUGH THE BANKS OF THE RED CEDAR: My Father and the Team That Changed the Game (Little A; January 1, 2022) follows her journey of uncovering just how difficult Gene’s youth in segregated Texas was, and his unorthodox rise to college football stardom at MSU during the height of the Civil Rights movement.

In this coming-of-age story, Maya narrates her father’s experiences with racial discrimination as a Black athlete from the segregated South and how his perseverance contributed to her own limited privilege. Maya’s life-altering experience of attending the funeral of Bubba Smith, her father’s childhood friend and teammate, revealed to her how much the world of football shielded her from the harsh realities that her father had faced.

After making the decision to learn more about her father’s past, Maya set out to interview the family members, friends, coaches, and teammates at the center of Gene’s story in order to learn more about the game that was so important to her father. As Maya’s eyes are opened to the reality of her father’s struggles with racism growing up in the south during Jim Crow, she also begins to reflect on her own experiences in her home city of Minneapolis, Minnesota and forms a deeper sense of gratitude for her parents’ devotion to opening doors for her that were closed to them during their youth.

Ultimately, THROUGH THE BANKS OF THE RED CEDAR expresses the growing bond between a father and his daughter, who comes to appreciate the game that changed both of their lives. Maya creates an inspiring depiction of Gene, not only as a star on the football field but also as a father to his three daughters. Maya expounds on controversial themes but expresses a sincere hope for unity.

Maya Washington Bio

MAYA WASHINGTON is an award-winning narrative and documentary filmmaker (writer/director/producer), actress, writer, poet, creative director, photographer, and arts educator.

She is dedicated to social impact stories that illuminate aspects of the human experience that are untold or rarely seen or that might benefit from new approaches to issues of diversity and inclusion.