Woody Campbell was born and grew up on a tobacco farm in Mount Pleasant, Florida. His parents provided him and his siblings love and guidance instilling in them the importance of a good education and becoming the best they could be. He attended Northwestern University of Evanston, Illinois on a football scholarship and graduated with a BA Degree in Arts and Sciences. Woody is considered one of the first black football players to pioneer College Football for black athletes in the State of Florida.

Woody was drafted by the Houston Oilers where he was an All Pro Running Back. After leaving professional football he became the first Black sportscaster in the city of Houston. He is a member of the Retired National Football League Players Association and retired Vietnam Vet.

Woody has enjoyed a successful career as a middle manager in corporate America where he was often sought as a mentor and advisor to the many associates he has worked alongside. Today, Woody enjoys motivating and inspiring others through his speaking and writing.

Fade to Black

Title: Fade to Black

Genre: Nonfiction

96 Pages

ISBN 978-09645493-9

Publisher: Against the Wind an Imprint of
Bluebonnets Boots & Books Press

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Who are we?

Who decided that we were “African Americans?” How did the world conclude that to be our designation? As children growing up we were called, with apparent acceptance “Colored people.” By the time the Civil Rights Movement was ushered in by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we were elevated to the respectable status of “Negro.” In college, I saw us move to “Afro American” and then to the preferred “Black American,” which I thought represented the result of the efforts of slain martyrs like Medgar Evers and Dr. Martin Luther King, who perished so that we could be known as Black Americans. They died so that we could move forward and share in the fruits of our labor in America.

For many years, I have been troubled by the apparent fact that we as Black Americans of African descent—whose ancestors had not immigrated willingly to America—have been unable to settle on a definitive identity.

I am unable to understand why this has not been done before. I feel that there are thousands, if not millions of people who feel as I do but for some reason, perhaps the fear of expert opinion, have not demonstrated their opposition. For all of those people let me state without hesitation that I believe we are Black Americans of African descent. The African American designation is by definition and logic, a misrepresentation.

Listen to Woody's Feature Interview

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