Rapid Ray: The Story Ray Lewis

by John Cooper

Rapid Ray Lewis was arguably the fastest man of his generation. He won medals in the 1932 Olympics and the 1934 British Empire Games, and countless races in North America. Remarkable achievements for any man – but all the more remarkable because Lewis had to race poverty and prejudice. The geat-grandson of slaves, he worked as a porter on the railway, and trained by running alongside the tracks when the train was stopped on the prairies.

Rapid Ray is far more than a sports autobiography; it is as much a history of one man’s battle for equality as it is a history of Olympic-level track. Throughout his long life – he is now in his nineties – Ray Lewis has fought discrimination not only in sports, but in every walk of life.

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

(1958- )
John Cooper has published a number of non-fiction books for young people, including Season of Rage: Hugh Burnett and the Struggle for Civil Rights (nominated for a Red Maple Award and a Stellar Book Award) and Rapid Ray: The Story of Ray Lewis. He has written for many publications, including Maclean’s and the Toronto Star. Cooper lives in Whitby, Ontario.

Reviews

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Rapid Ray before. I think Canada needs to do a better job recognising all its amazing citizens.

[Neill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray Lewis was the first Canadian-born black athlete to receive an Olympic medal in track and field. Facing the difficulties of making a living and the latent racism of Canada in the 1920s to the 1950s, Ray won the Canadian National Championship for 440 yards in 1929, an Olympic bronze in 1932, and a silver medal at the 1934 British Empire games as a relay runner while working as a porter for the CPR. This is story from his earliest years to being made a member of the Order of Canada in 2001 told as though it is in his voice.