Chargers Black History Month | Los Angeles Chargers - chargers.com

High experienced her community's love and support two years ago when she opened Octavia's Bookshelf, a Black-owned bookstore with a focus on Black, indigenous and other authors of color.

"I think the reason that Octavia's Bookshelf has been so important in the community at large — with such a small timeframe — is because of the transparency and because the community really wanted something like this to exist," High said.

The former Chargers kicker was a trailblazer on the gridiron and also served in the Vietnam War.

Herb Travenio only played pro football for two seasons, yet he was able to be an important trailblazer in the sport. Travenio was among one of first Black kickers in pro football playing for the Bolts in the AFL in 1964 and 1965 under Sid Gillman, who is a member of the Chargers Hall of Fame.

As a member of the Marines in early adulthood, Travenio returned during the Vietnam War to help and train other troops. He is one of 29 NFL personnel who served in the military during the war.

Born in Durham, North Carolina during the height of the Jim Crow era, Barnes is known as the first (and possibly only) American professional athlete to become a well-known and noted painter.

With his art displaying a unique style of movement, Barnes would share powerful messages and imagery that depicted many aspects of his life. He captured themes of his experiences he saw growing up through the Jim Crow era and segregated south.

Barnes would then move on to the Chargers in 1961 and spend two seasons with the Bolts. He played in 13 total games (five starts) with the Bolts before moving on to the Broncos where he would spend two seasons. His professional football career would come to an end in 1965 after suffering a foot injury playing in the Canadian Football League.

Sid Brooks spent 27 seasons (1973–2000) as the Chargers equipment manager, earning a reputation as an innovator who helped modernize the game. He is credited with co-creating features such as colored facemasks, colored cleats, three-color jersey numbers and form-fitting shoulder pads — changes that are now standard across football.

In 2022, Brooks was posthumously honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural Awards of Excellence class. A 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran who served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Brooks later worked with USC athletics before his passing in 2007, leaving a legacy of innovation and lifelong service.