Reading response: “Major Problems in American Sport History”by Steven A. Riess

The book “Major Problems in American Sport History” by Steven A. Riess was an interesting and at the same time, a provocative read.The book presents and puts in perspective the history of the American sporting experience illuminating this history from a multiplicity and diversity of points of view, each with a different perspective that leaves the reader with more questions than answers. It challenges the widely accepted viewpoints which have for long been accepted as the norm.

In this reading response this paper will be focusing on chapters 10: Race and Ethnicity in American Sport, 1900-1940; and chapter 13: Sport and Race in America Since 1945.

Chapter 10: Race and Ethnicity in American Sport addressespertinent issues in the development of American sport by way of race and ethnicity. It demonstrates the significant role that dynamics such as ethnic and racial backgrounds played in the development of sports. It brings into perspective and explains the current interest in particular sports by equally particular racial groups. For example he explains how African Americans were by poverty and by parental restrictions prevented against engaging in certain sports, and this lead to their engaging in sports which fitted in with their surrounding, statuses and environment. This resulted to their playing sports such as boxing and basketball, which they dominate up to the present day America. This chapter also demonstrates how, many African Americans with excellent baseball skills were discriminated against and this resulted to their inability to pursue full fledged careers as professional major league players

To better bring out the issue of race and ethnicity in American sports, the chapter explores documents such as the St. Louis post dispatch of 1911 on prejudice against African-American ballplayers in the; the Chicago Commission on Race Relations examination of racial contacts recreation in the late 1910; Frederic Thrasher’s, “Ethnic gangs fight over park turf in Chicago, 1921”; and Richard Henry Pratt Encourages Indian Sportsmanship, c. 1894. But perhaps the section in this chapter that was most interesting to read was Frazier “Slow” Robinson’s document “I Caught Satchel Paige in the 1930s.” it gives a brief on Leroy Robert Paige, who was an African American baseball player, renown for his pitching while at the negro leagues and in the major league baseball, even christened a legend, at a time when racial relations were tense and managers were reluctant to have African Americans on their football teams.

Chapter 13: Sport and Race in America Since 1945 also looks at how the perception towards race in sports developed and subsequently changed after 1945. It portrays how in post 1945 America, the athletic prowess of African American was slowly being recognized and accepted by both African Americans and whites. The chapter presents the silent surge of the African American voice in various issues in America, and particularly in sports. It presents the growing demand and petitions by civil rights leaders and liberal politicians during this period for racial equality, which encompassed full integration of the playing fields. It presents the increased fights against racism, prejudice and segregation in sports against blacks.

The chapter covers documents such as; Jackie Robinson on the Struggles of His First Spring Training, 1946; Harry Edwards Reviews the Making of the Black Athletic Revolt, 1967; and Jules Tygiel, “A Lone Negro in the Game: Jackie Robinson’s Rookie Season.”  However, a text that was especially interesting to me in chapter 13 was the interview with Muhammad Ali. It was eye opening and brought into perspective the hardships that people of color went through during this period. However, it worth noting that it is role models such as Muhammad Ali who emboldened African Americans to fight against prejudice in sports, together with the civil right movement and the black power movement.  Ali’s outspokenness, his religious conversion and his stern insistence on not serving in the army was a big leap towards neutrality,fairness and equivalence in sports in America.

Reading the two chapters has personally helped me appreciate the path that American sports history has taken. It has made me understand the considerable although unnecessary and unwarranted roles that race and ethnicity played in sports, and the many dreams that these two circumstantial human differences have crashed. This book is a must read for any individual who aspires to pursue a career field which is founded on sports.

References

Riess, S. A. (20 January 2014). Major Problems in American Sport History (2 ed.). United States of America: Wadsworth Publishing Co Inc.

 
Do you need an Original High Quality Academic Custom Essay?