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A Most Beautiful Thing
A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team | Arshay Cooper
14 posts | 6 read | 8 to read
Now a documentary narrated by Common, produced by Grant Hill, Dwyane Wade, and 9th Wonder, from filmmaker Mary Mazzio The moving true story of a group of young men growing up on Chicago's West side who form the first all-black high school rowing team in the nation, and in doing so not only transform a sport, but their lives. Growing up on Chicagos Westside in the 90s, Arshay Cooper knows the harder side of life. The street corners are full of gangs, the hallways of his apartment complex are haunted by drug addicts he calls zombies with strung out arms, clutching at him as he passes by. His mother is a recovering addict, and his three siblings all sleep in a one room apartment, a small infantry against the war zone on the street below. Arshay keeps to himself, preferring to write poetry about the girl he has a crush on, and spends his school days in the home-ec kitchen dreaming of becoming a chef. And then one day as hes walking out of school he notices a boat in the school lunchroom, and a poster that reads Join the Crew Team. Having no idea what the sport of crew is, Arshay decides to take a chance. This decision to join is one that will forever change his life, and those of his fellow teammates. As Arshay and his teammates begin to come together to learn how to row--many never having been in water before--the sport takes them from the mean streets of Chicago, to the hallowed halls of the Ivy League. But Arshay and his teammates face adversity at every turn, from racism, gang violence, and a sport that has never seen anyone like them before. A Most Beautiful Thing is the inspiring true story about the most unlikely band of brothers that form a family, and forever change a sport and their lives for the better.
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Kshakal
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His story was so inspiring… I could have listened to him all night!

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LatrelWhite
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Oh, wow already in love with this writer!

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Tamra
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Pickpick

The pic has nothing to do with the tagged book except athleticism. 😆 Cooper is a loaded spring ready for action. Spring is his spirit name.

Listened to the audio of this book for IRL bookclub. I appreciate the rowing club wasn‘t all about the sport, promising HS students rainbows of gold coins & fame, instead it was a scaffolding of varying supports to be successful in their chosen walks of life.

Going to watch the documentary. 👍🏾

TheBookHippie Oh gorgeous dog!!! 5mo
Tamra @TheBookHippie thanks - he is a character for sure! 5mo
TheBookHippie @Tamra I live in my Diva bulldogs house…so I get it 🤣 5mo
See All 8 Comments
Tamra @TheBookHippie 🤣🤣 ain‘t that the truth?! 5mo
LeahBergen He looks like he‘s waiting for a squirrel. 😆 5mo
dabbe #calmcooper ... #not 🤩🖤🐾🖤🤩 5mo
Aimeesue Such focus! 🐾 5mo
Tamra @LeahBergen @dabbe @Aimeesue locked & loaded! Anything that moves is fair game. 5mo
61 likes8 comments
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BoldCityBooks
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Pickpick

This was absolutely incredible. I couldn‘t put it down. It‘s an easy read at 226 pages and I was hooked the whole time.

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TracyReadsBooks
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This is…accurate. 🥶

Jensol77 Snow on Easter predicted 🐣 3y
TracyReadsBooks @Jensol77 I just saw that! Wonderful (by which I mean strange and unusual 😂) weather we‘re having this spring! ❄️🥶❄️ 3y
27 likes2 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
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Going with a recommendation from my mom this morning.

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LatrelWhite
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Starting this...😁

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Randywolfe

Great book about race and competing against all odds

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DGRachel
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So excited that the company I work for is finally starting to actively celebrate Black History Month and the diversity of its employees. Today they hosted a webinar chat with with Grant Hill and Mary Mazzio about their film adaptation of the tagged book. I‘m not usually a sports nonfiction book person, but I may have to pick this one up! The film is free on Peacock and is also on Amazon Prime, if anyone is interested in viewing it.

TiminCalifornia How great this will be for a film! 4y
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hwestfall
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book! You should add it to your 2021 “to read” list.

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TheSpineView
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#SciFiSeptember @Klou
#MenInBlack

Probably not what you had in mind for the prompt. However, as I was thinking on a book that would fit the prompt, I kept coming back to this book. It is a true story of the first African American crew team. Great stuff!! If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend that you add it to your TBR list.💙

Klou Awesome!! 👍 4y
60 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheBookStacker
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Love this book 🥰

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ValerieAndBooks
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A memoir “A Most Beautiful Thing” by #blackauthor Arshay Cooper is coming out on June 30. Cooper grew up in Chicago, and was a member of the first all-black rowing team. Looks very interesting. A documentary with the same name has been made as well.

Article pictured is from this weekend‘s WSJ.

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