COFFEE AND DONUTS

Coffee and Donuts is the inspiring true story of Elston Eugene Howard, a trailblazing figure in the world of baseball who, like countless young Black boys of the era, found hope and purpose through Jackie Robinson’s groundbreaking inclusion into the previously segregated sport. An all-around stand-out talent, Elston’s natural abilities on the field caught the attention of Negro League Hall of Fame legends Frank "Tenny" Edwards and Buck O’Neil. Fresh off their success developing legends Jackie Robinson and Ernie Banks, Edwards, and O’Neil recognized the potential in the young, raw, and unknown Howard. They sought to mold him into the ballplayer uniquely qualified to break the staunchly held color barrier of the league’s most illustrious, arrogant, lily-whitest, and winning-est team in the history of the sport: the New York Yankees. Set against the turbulent backdrop of progressive protests seeking to topple a racist hierarchy and the expectations of excellence, Elston takes on forces unlike those faced by Jackie Robinson — who once famously remarked, “At least the Brooklyn Dodgers wanted me” — and sets out to forge his very own legacy in the sport. A legacy that continues to inspire and impact the game to this day. Coffee and Donuts is a story of struggle, triumph, and legacy. It’s a poignant reminder of the power of perseverance, the importance of representation, and the enduring strength of marginalized voices that continue to impact the world.