Rising From the Sunken Place: Heroism, History, and the Evolution of the Black Quarterback

Essay Prompt: 

Drawing on Jordan Peele’s concept of the Sunken Place in Get Out, write a 1,700-word essay examining the heroic effort required not only to lift oneself out of the Sunken Place, but to help others rise as well—an arc vividly captured in the three-part docuseries The Evolution of the Black Quarterback. What does it mean for Black quarterbacks to break the race barrier in the NFL? What forces tried to hold them back, and how do these forces echo the Sunken Place? Consider also the story of Wilbur Dungy—Tony Dungy’s father—who served as a war hero only to return home to the indignities of Jim Crow. How did his dignity, endurance, and moral clarity shape his son’s rise as both an athlete and a coach?

Your essay will be divided into two major sections.

Part I (Four Paragraphs): Define the Sunken Place
Write a four-paragraph definition of the Sunken Place, with each paragraph offering a different lens:

1. The Sunken Place as depicted in Get Out
   
2. The Sunken Place through the writings of Frederick Douglass
   
3. The Sunken Place as represented in the Jim Crow Museum, curated by David Pilgrim
   
4. The Sunken Place as reflected in The Evolution of the Black Quarterback
   

Each paragraph should show how the Sunken Place functions as a metaphor for psychological confinement, social domination, and the struggle for agency.

Part II (Four Paragraphs): Rising From the Sunken Place
After your definition section, pivot to your thesis. Explain how early Black quarterbacks in the NFL rose from the Sunken Place and built a legacy that opened doors for future generations. In four paragraphs, analyze their courage and composure in the face of rejection, demoralization, racist taunts, structural exclusion, and even death threats. Show how their resilience and excellence expanded the possibilities for Black athletes who followed.

Conclusion:
Close by addressing the broader implications. What life lessons can we draw from these trailblazing quarterbacks? How does their story speak to endurance, leadership, and the ongoing work of lifting others out of the Sunken Places they confront?

Include a Works Cited page in MLA format with at least four sources.