Don Tate Wins Second Christopher Award for "Pigskins to Paintbrushes"

Austin-based author/illustrator Don Tate was honored with a second Christopher Award for the book Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes, (Abrams Books for Young Readers), for children aged 8 and up. The book is one of 12 for adults and young people chosen as the #ChristopherAwards mark their 73rd year. The authors join writers, producers and directors of 10 winning TV/cable and feature films. His first Christopher Award in 2016 was for Poet.

The book is the true story of an art-loving African American child who faced racism and bullying on his road to becoming a professional football player and a painter. Ernie was bullied for being shy, overweight, and uninterested in sports like boys were “supposed” to be so he took refuge in his sketchbook. Growing up in a poor, Black neighborhood during the 1930s, opportunities to learn about art were rare, and art museums were off-limits because of segregation laws. Discouraged and tired of being teased, Ernie joined the school football team, soon becoming a star. Art followed him through high school, college, and into the NFL. He played for the Baltimore Colts (1959–60), Titans of New York (1960), San Diego Chargers (1960–62), and the Denver Broncos (1963–64). In 1965, he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Canada, but fractured his right foot, ending his professional football career. New York Jets owner Sonny Werblin sponsored a solo exhibition in NYC--all the paintings sold. Ernie was commissioned to create the posters for the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics.

Don Tate is an award-winning author, and the illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children. He is also one of the founding hosts of the blog The Brown Bookshelf designed to push awareness of the myriad of African American voices writing for young readers. It includes book reviews, author and illustrator interviews. Tate frequently speaks at schools, public libraries and writing conferences, and participates in book festivals.

The celebrated authors, illustrators, writers, producers, and directors, whose works exemplify this Chinese proverb “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness,” also “affirm the highest values of the human spirit,” said Tony Rossi, The Christophers’ Director of Communications. “After the hardships and suffering we’ve witnessed and endured in the last two years, we need stories of hope, light, and unity to lift our spirits and guide us toward a brighter path,” he said.

The Christophers, a nonprofit founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb—“It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness”— guides its publishing, radio, and awards programs. More information about The Christophers is available at www.christophers.org.