In the game
Subtitle: race, identity, and sports in the twentieth century
By: edited by Amy Bass
Contributors: Bass, Amy
Edition: 1st ed
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 273
Subjects: Racism in sports -- History -- 20th century; Discrimination in sports -- History -- 20th century; Sports -- Social aspects -- History -- 20th century; Ethnic relations -- History -- 20th century
Description: Talking about race and sports almost always leads to trouble. Rush Limbaugh's stint as an NFL commentator came to an abrupt end when he made off-handed comments about black quarterback Donovan McNabb. Cincinnati Reds' owner Marge Schott and CBS commentator Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder also landed in hot water for public remarks that most people construed as racist. Ask a simple question along these lines--"Why do African Americans dominate the NBA?"--and watch the sparks fly. It is precisely this flashpoint that Amy Bass seeks to explore. Sports wield a tremendous amount of cultural power in the United States and around the world, and often influence our ideas about race. In the Game is a collection of essays by top thinkers on race that survey this treacherous terrain. They engage topics like boxer Joe Louis's iconic status during the Jim Crow era, how blacks shaped the NFL in the 1970s, American Indian sports team mascots, and soccer in Argentina.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index