Category: Athletics

New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss will make his book discussion and signing debut in Southeast Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at St. Clair County Community College (SC4) in Port Huron.

The event, hosted by SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will feature a guided book discussion on “Strong Inside,” the story of trailblazing athlete Perry Wallace and of civil rights and race in America during the tumultuous 1960s. The book also highlights as a key character Detroiter Godfrey Dillard, a fellow pioneering black Vanderbilt Commodores player and now prominent civil rights attorney.

“Strong Inside” is the first of five books by Maraniss that aims to illuminate social justice issues through an athletics lens in an effort to raise awareness and foster an interest in reading. His other books include:

• “Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team” – Due out on Sept. 13, 2022
• “Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke” – The story of Glenn Burke, the first openly gay MLB player and inventor of the high five
• “Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler’s Germany”
• “Strong Inside” Young Readers Edition

“I was really into sports growing up, and I realized there are a lot of social issues you can study through sports,” Maraniss said. “Whether it’s paving the way as a first player or team in a previously prohibited space, or advocating for pay equity or more, sports often have a way of leading and elevating the discussion. My hope is that by writing about these events, teams and figures, more readers, especially students, who have a passion for sports will want to continue reading other books as well.”

In addition to his work as an author, Maraniss also serves as director of special projects at Vanderbilt Athletics. He’s also held positions as a contributing writer at ESPN, a partner at McNeely, Pigott & Fox Public Relations, and media relations manager with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Though Maraniss himself does not have Michigan roots, his father, David Maraniss—who’s also a New York Times bestselling author—was born in Detroit. Andrew’s grandparents also have ties as residents and University of Michigan alumni.

“We’re thrilled to bring such a talented and relevant author to campus and to our region,” said Dr. Deborah A. Snyder, president of SC4. “We’re committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable educational environment here at SC4. Our students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and guests from across Southeast Michigan and Ontario will benefit greatly from this discussion and visit.” 

The book signing will take place from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and the discussion from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on SC4’s Port Huron, Mich., campus in the Fine Arts Theatre. The event is free and open to the public, though registration is required. For more information, contact SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at dei@sc4.edu.

To order books by Maraniss, visit andrewmaraniss.com/buy-the-books/.

“Strong Inside” book review
“In a magnificently reported, nuanced but raw account of basketball and racism in the South during the 1960s, Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Perry Wallace’s struggle, loneliness, perseverance and eventual self-realization. A rare story about physical and intellectual courage that is both shocking and triumphant.” – Bob Woodward, Washington Post associate editor and author