Book Description
From the ESPN National Correspondent and author of the New York Times bestseller "Cinderella Man" comes the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of a defining moment in sports and world history. In 1936, against a backdrop of swastikas flying, and storm troopers goose-stepping, an African-American son of sharecroppers won a staggering four Olympic gold medals and single-handedly crushed Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy. The story of Jesse Owen at the 1936 games is that of a high-profile athlete giving a performance that transcends sports. But it is also the intimate and complex tale of the courage of one remarkable man. Drawing on unprecedented access to the Owens family, previously unpublished interviews, and exhaustive archival research, Jeremy Schaap transports us to Nazi Germany to weave this dramatic tale. From the start, American participation in the 1936 games was controversial. A boycott was afoot, based on reports of Nazi hostility to Jews, but was thwarted by the president of the Americn Olympic Committee, who dismissed the actions of the Third Reich as irrelevant. At the games themselves the subplots and intrigue continued: Owens was befriended by a German rival, broad jumper Luz Long, who, legend has it, helped Owens win the gold medal at his own expense. Two Jewish sprinters were denied the chance to compete for the United States at the last possible moment, most likely out of misguided deference to the Nazi hosts. And a myth was born that Hitler had snubbed Owens by failing to congratulate him. With his trademark incisive reporting and rich storytelling gifts, Schaap reveals what really transpired over those tense, exhilarating few weeks some seventy years ago. In the end, "Triumph" is a triumph--a page-turning narrative that illuminates what happens when sports and geopolitics collide on a world stage.
Customer Reviews:
An Amazing History Lesson.......2007-04-10
Take a trip back to the days of World War II in this historical account of Jesse Owens and his trip to the Berlin Olympics.
Good History lesson.......2007-03-31
Very good history lesson. The book flows well and gives a good account of what America and the world was like during Mr. Owen's life. Would encourage the reading of Triumph
Pure Gold!!!.......2007-03-26
Mr. Schaap has sifted through the myth and legend of Jesse Owens and the Berlin Olympics and given us a compelling account of these extraordinary games. He presents a balanced account of the man and athlete Mr. Owens was, from his humble beginnings in Alabama to his record setting Olympic performance. He sets the tone early by recounting the legendary day of days in Ann Arbor when Mr. Owens achieved one of the greatest athletic accomplishments of all time by tying one and setting FOUR WORLD RECORDS in the span of one hour. He takes us through the politics of race and the olympics. He transports us back to a moment in time when the world was on the precipice of war. For such a small book this is A STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT!!!
A 20th century Sport Hero.......2007-03-19
Sport stories tend to be puffed up and dry. This story lifted out of the early days of WW2 brings to the reader "in living color" the true stry of Jesse James. I had the good fortune of meeting him on two occasions and there was never a finer gentleman than Jesse Owens.
Jack Vax
Fantastic ! Page turner!.......2007-03-17
This is a wonderfully written book. It sounds cliche, but I really couldn't put it down!
Book Description
From Jackie Robinson to Muhammad Ali and Arthur Ashe, African American athletes have been at the center of modern culture, their on-the-field heroics admired and stratospheric earnings envied. But for all their money, fame, and achievement, says New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden, black athletes still find themselves on the periphery of true power in the multibillion-dollar industry their talent built.
Provocative and controversial, Rhoden’s $40 Million Slaves weaves a compelling narrative of black athletes in the United States, from the plantation to their beginnings in nineteenth-century boxing rings and at the first Kentucky Derby to the history-making accomplishments of notable figures such as Jesse Owens, Althea Gibson, and Willie Mays. Rhoden makes the cogent argument that black athletes’ “evolution” has merely been a journey from literal plantations—where sports were introduced as diversions to quell revolutionary stirrings—to today’s figurative ones, in the form of collegiate and professional sports programs. Weaving in his own experiences growing up on Chicago’s South Side, playing college football for an all-black university, and his decades as a sportswriter, Rhoden contends that black athletes’ exercise of true power is as limited today as when masters forced their slaves to race and fight. The primary difference is, today’s shackles are often of their own making.
Every advance made by black athletes, Rhoden explains, has been met with a knee-jerk backlash—one example being Major League Baseball’s integration of the sport, which stripped the black-controlled Negro League of its talent and left it to founder. He details the “conveyor belt” that brings kids from inner cities and small towns to big-time programs, where they’re cut off from their roots and exploited by team owners, sports agents, and the media. He also sets his sights on athletes like Michael Jordan, who he says have abdicated their responsibility to the community with an apathy that borders on treason.
Sweeping and meticulously detailed, $40 Million Slaves is an eye-opening exploration of a metaphor we only thought we knew.
Customer Reviews:
educational.......2007-10-10
This is an excellent book that gives very insiteful information on known and unknown practices in professional sports.
A Must Read........2007-09-30
I thought the book was great. Its a good historical tool in terms of Afican-Americans in sports. People who do not like the book obviously never read it from start to finish.
Rhoden does a great job in showing the correlation between the negro athlete of slavery times to the African-American athlete of today. One black man who is making 10 million dollars for himself is making 20 million or more for a white business men. A handful of black millionaires doesn't negate the fact that there are millions of black people in the world that are being exploited for other peoples gain. A must read.
Great Book.......2007-09-21
This is an excellent truthful book. From reading some of the reviews, it's obvious the racist and racism are in the house. Envious, jealous and feeling entitled to say this book is horrible only because Mr. Roden calls it like he sees it(and many of us see it as well)to those negative posters, GET OVER IT!!...again an excellent book..
Provocative!!.......2007-08-28
Mr. Rhoden I applaud you for this book. It is really on time and long overdue. Some of what you have written in this book concerning the Black
Athlete I have been saying for years but no one wanted to hear it. All Blacks not just athletes, should read this book. Thank you again for calling it like it is.
Forty Million Dollar Slaves.......2007-07-29
This book enunciates the problems in graduation from the inner city
into the big leagues. Historically, by the late 1890s, black athletes
excelled at an ever increasing rate. Despite the progress made,
the profile of the black athlete stands at the periphery of power
in the sports establishment. This has lead to the loss of an overall
mission, although the psychological armor remains in the achievements
of the black athletes over the years. The author states that the
plantation slaves performed great physical labor. Prior to the 1970s,
segregation was a significant limiting factor. Sojourner Truth
worked on behalf of the black women of the time. Today, there are
multiple tiers of blacks in America. The book provides some very
important historical background; however, the next step is to
turn the capital acquired from the sports into personal wealth .
In addition, an athlete's physical stamina remains until the
mid-30s or early 40s. What does an athlete do when his/her career
has peaked athletically? The book could discuss this aspect in more
depth. For instance, black athletes could graduate into their
own businesses or attend college/further study to branch out into
other careers/ventures. Another important issue regards how the
black athlete invests money for the future.
Overall, the book provides an important perspective relevant to the
black history of athletes in the various sports. As such, it is
a valuable addition to American History in the sports arena.
Book Description
At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Tommie Smith and his teammate John Carlos came in first and third, respectively, in the 200-meter dash. As they received their medals, each man raised a black-gloved fist, creating an image that will always stand as an iconic representation of the complicated conflations of race, politics, and sports. In this, his autobiography, Smith fills out the story around that moment--how it came to be and where it led him.
Smith engagingly describes his life-long commitment to athletics, education, and human rights. He also dispels some of the myths surrounding his famous gesture of protest: contrary to legend, Smith was not a member of the Black Panthers, nor were his medals taken back by the Olympic Committee. Retelling the fear he felt in planning and carrying out his protest, the death threats against him, his difficulty in finding work, and his determination to live his values, he conveys the long, painful backlash that came with his fame, and his fate, all of which was wrapped up in his "silent gesture."
Customer Reviews:
A Rather Noisy Gesture.......2007-08-09
I cannot remember if I watched the medal presentation ceremony for the 200 meter race at the 1968 Olympics. I think I did, if I did not then I missed a historic occasion.
At that time racial problems in USA were not unfamiliar to me and I knew of people like Eldridge Cleaver, Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, Angela Davis... However I thought that those problems would not affect top class athletes and that they were fairly treated by the white society. So I regarded the medal ceremony as a strong and emotional protest by people who though not directly affected wanted to give a voice to the majority of afro-american citizens.
I could not be wronger. For instance, it never crossed my mind that Carlos and Smith feared to be shot by someone from the crowd.
The book under review is a detailed account of Tommie Smith's life, focussing on the events that led to Mexico 68 and what happened afterwards.
It is hard to believe what the two athletes, Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medallists respectively, had to endure: insults, menacing junk mail (a friend of a Smith's sister later confessed she used to send similar messages just for fun), the collapse of a marriage, a wife's suicide, the lack of support from people who could have helped (the former footballer Jim Brown was one of those), other black athletes strongly complaining their careers had been destroyed (Jim Hines, for example), no jobs...
Also the families suffered. Smith's mother died at 57 and he strongly implies her death was caused by the stress that the situation generated. His brothers and sisters suffered all sorts of abuse and his youngest brother still seems to blame his life failures on him.
It is no wonder that Muhammad Ali threw his Roma gold medal into the Mississipi river when realized that he was treated as before in his home town.
The story appears to have a happy ending, the book closes with the unveiling of a statue
portraying both athletes where everything started - the campus of San Jose State College -,
but has it? Does anything in the world erase the strong suffering both athletes had to face?
On reading this book I was reminded of a TV movie I watched long ago. The character played by Bette Davis, an old teacher, bumps into a former and much, much younger pupil.
They recall her motto - It's better to lose on one's terms than to win on someone else's. (I'm quoting from memory). I think that Tommie Smith might agree.
wordy but i nteresting.......2007-05-12
I thought the book was wordy but interesting. I wish the ghost writer had more control. Sometimes preachy. Slow read.
Silent Gesture.......2007-05-07
I enjoyed learning more about Mr. Smith, but found the writing to be cumbersome, and a bit boring.
The concept was a good one, unfortunately the writing was poor.
Therapy For Smith, Not For The Reader.......2007-04-14
With several long-winded sections on the kinetics of sprinting and slams against athletes - John Carlos, George Foreman, Bob Seagren, Lee Evans, teammates on the Cincinnati Bengals - and others - Dr. Harry Edwards, Jim Brown, the NAACP - it is no wonder why it took 40 years for Tommie Smith to get his autobiography published.
In what is oftentimes a very tedious read, Smith and co-author David Steele ruin what is a powerful personal account of an athlete who truly wanted to use his talent for a greater good and the institutionalized racism in this country that he has confronted his entire life.
Smith's recollections of the Olympic Project for Human Rights is particularly moving and he does an excellent job is dispelling the myths that has clouded the issue since the late 1960s. For the record, his Olympic gold medal was never seized by the International Olympic Committee.
But his personal vendettas against so many people and institutions detracts mightily from his message. It may have been theraputic for Smith, but whining about the salaries of Bengal teammates and magnifying every perceived slight from friends/colleagues into high drama becomes juvenile and silly.
I was very excited when I heard that Smith's autobiography was finally going to be published. But it proved to be a very disappointing read.
Disappointed.......2007-03-10
I feel that the previous reviewers each has an ax (albeit a different ax) to grind. I am simply a progressive who happens to follow the sport of track & field, and have since before 1968. I admire both Smith and Carlos, but I thought Smith's book (I have not read Carlos')was self-serving and, as one reviewer noted, compromised by regret. To those of us of that generation , to whom that silent gesture was meaningful indeed, whatever its exact motivation, this volume constitutes a terrible disappointment. I'll take the Tommie Smith of 1968 without resrvations, but who's THIS guy?
Book Description
It was a crumbling city, like so many others. But in Hartford five gifted young men, who met as high school athletes, promised their lives to the hometown that shaped them even as it was coming apart. They intended to go far. They would, they pledged, bring back college degrees and commit themselves to living and working in Hartford. This is the story of those five men and how they kept, or broke, that promise—told by a writer whose own family history and departure are also part of Hartford’s struggle. It is a story of hope and heartbreak; love, sacrifice, and murder; big-time college football and police brutality; a drug sting that fells a high school coach; and, finally, a reunion of friends who have learned how hard it is to honor the past and live for the future in a place like Hartford.
Through it all Michael Downs comes to terms with his own decision to leave his hometown and abandon his ailing grandparents to a city that shows little mercy. His is very much a narrative of our nation of migrants and immigrants, where we must forever ask: What happens to those we leave behind? And how can we make peace with ourselves when we can no longer help the places we once called home?
Customer Reviews:
thoughtful & interesting.......2007-06-18
Makes a person think about education, urban planning and the cost of suberbia.
A Tale Well Told.......2007-04-11
Michael Downs has done a wonderful job of weaving in his personal life with a story of hopes and dreams--some realized and some not. At times, his prose is poetic. The story of the virtual collapse of huge chunks of Hartford is a story that has played out in major cities across America. This story, extremely well-documented and reported, is uniquely and poignantly told.
Amazon.com
Is there a genetic reason that African-Americans dominate professional sports? Even raising the question seems tantamount to heresy. Jon Entine not only raises the question, he strives to answer it in Taboo: Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid to Talk About It.
Entine is no stranger to controversy, having worked with Tom Brokaw on the award-winning NBC News documentary Black Athletes: Fact and Fiction in 1989. He's also willing to ask tough questions--and come up with answers that anger people on all sides of the issue. Entine starts off with some statistics indicating that African-American athletes are disproportionately represented in professional sports: for example, 13 percent of the U.S. population is black, but the NFL is 65 percent black, the NBA is nearly 80 percent black, and the WNBA is 70 percent black. He also examines cultural issues, laying to rest the long-held idea that blacks excel in sports because it is the only avenue open for advancement.
Some scholars cry foul at the idea that blacks are physically gifted, seeing this as a subtle way of saying that they are therefore intellectually stunted. Entine carefully argues that historically athletic ability and intellectual prowess were linked--with a positive bias. The "dumb jock" stereotype is a relatively recent construct--perhaps a defensive mechanism that arose when blacks began to participate on a level playing field and gain prominence in the sporting world. There's no reason to suppose athleticism and intelligence are inversely related; Entine quotes respected sports reporter Frank Deford: "[W]hen Jack Nicklaus sinks a 30-foot putt, nobody thinks his IQ goes down." The issue of physical superiority is further complicated by fears that a genetic explanation results in a belief that blacks don't succeed because of hard work, dedication, and drive, but rather (in the words of Brooks Johnson, who doesn't believe Entine's claims) "because God just gave 'em the right gene."
Is the fear of sounding racist hindering legitimate scientific inquiry? Entine believes so, noting that, "Anyone who attempts to breach this taboo to study or even discuss what might be behind the growing performance gap between black and white athletes must be prepared to run a gauntlet of public scorn, survival not guaranteed." Taboo is destined to make most of its readers uncomfortable. Hopefully this discomfort will serve as a wedge to open up discussion of an issue too long avoided. --Sunny Delaney
Book Description
Now in paperback, the book that jump-started a debate that shows no sign of ending. "Could well be the most intellectually demanding sports book ever written." -Washington Post Award-winning journalist Jon Entine's Taboo: Why Black Atheletes Dominate Sports and why We're Afraid t Talk About It created enormous controversy when PublicAffairs released it in hardcover in the fall of 1999. Rarely does a book so highly lauded by critics also elicit letters to the editor so passionately praising or damning the author for even daring to raise a subject. Drawing on the latest scientific research, and addressing all the major sports of North America, Entine persuasively shows why biology and ancestry are significant components of the stunning ascension of black athletes. He offers a gripping history of blacks in sports and a fascinating examination of the circumstances that have made addressing the facts so difficult and controversial. Artfully, and carefully, combining science, sports history, and sociology, Taboo has already proven to be one of the most controversial and illuminating books in recent memory. Paperback edition includes new Afterword by author.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty thin soup.......2006-11-26
And I might be a little generous with the second star.
I, as a few other reviewers, note two problems off the top of the bat.
One is Entine's uncritical handling of "The Bell Curve."
Two is that he ignores the many sports that don't have a lot of black athletes.
Beyond that, he gets selective within some sports that he does address, such as seeming to focus on track more, and field events less.
Also, he ignored the rise of non-American white and non-black athletes in several sports in recent years.
I think of the white Europeans in the NBA, and the non-black Caribbean players and a few Japanese in MLB.
Finally, contrary to his claims otherwise, all too many children of all colors who are lower down the socioeconomic rungs tend to focus on sports as salvation. Unfortunately, more of these children are minorities.
Surprisingly short on substance.......2005-07-17
There is some interesting information here, but ultimately much of this book is simply a history of African-American athletics, which is not exactly obvious from the book's title. Hey, I'm as interested in the story of Jack Johnson as the next guy, but does the treatment he received really belong in this book? Given that the book weighs in at 400 pages, you've got to wonder what his editor was thinking about some of these anecdotes.
On another note, I'm tired of seeing Tiger Woods be referred to as a "black golfer." For the record, Tiger is 1/2 Asian, 1/4 black, 1/8 white and 1/8 Native American. Why does his black ancestry somehow trump the other 75% of his heritage?
Misleading title, doesn't even address the topic.......2005-04-22
After hearing the controversy surrounding this book, I decided to shell out twenty bucks and pick up a copy myself. As a social scientist with a strong interest in racial inequality and identity, and especially as a major sports fan, I figured that this would be a rather intriguing book. It certainly is, but in a different way than which the author/publisher market it.
Entine provides very little evidence and data to explain to us "why black athletes dominate sports." Mostly, he gives us a collection of statistics on the number of black players at the so-called speed positions in various sports (providing a numerical relationship, but no explanation). Quite disappointing - With such an adamant title, I was expecting the author to give us the concrete, infallible scientific proof explaining "why black athletes dominate sports," but I guess my expectations were too high.
Entine has a point up to a certain extent. Body form is, in fact, a major factor in calculating competitive advantage in certain sports. For example, a 5'3" man can forget about playing center in the NBA, just as a seven-footer has no shot at being the winning jockey at the Belmont Stakes. But to assume body form to some innate, hard-wired, racial sports gene is absurd and ultimately undermines the valid points that Entine does bring up.
I half think that Entine chose such a title for this book for the sensational reaction he knew it would garner. Sports consists of much more than speed and running, and clearly, black athletes do not dominate in sports such as weight lifting, skiing, field, wrestling, gymnastics, or hockey. By the title of this books, blacks rule the entire world of sports - which is not the case.
Something else also comes to mind. I find it quite amazing how people are always quick to point out that the high proportion of African-Americans in the NBA is scientific proof that blacks are genetically gifted basketball players. However, those folks must remain oblivious to the fact that after the United States, the basketball powerhouse nations are found in Eastern Europe...NOT western Africa! If African-Americans' ancestry to equatorial west Africa was responsible for their basketball abilities, then we should expect to find the nations of Nigeria, Ghana, and Zaire winning international basketball medals over the likes of Lithuania, Germany, Russia, Croatia, and Serbia. The fact of the matter is that growing numbers of NBA players are comming out of the former communist bloc of Europe. In 20 years, I believe the NBA will be 50 percent European. Even sports reporter Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star has bemoaned the fact that African-American players are "losing their jobs" to foreign players.
Also, Entine attributes the pheonomenal success of Brazil in World Cup Soccer to the African ancestry of most players on the national roster. This is quite ironic, since Germany, Italy, and Argentina are also soccer powerhouses and have accomplished this with few African-descent players on their respective clubs. England, Colombia, and Mexico each have far superior soccer squads than any national teams from West Africa (the area of the world where the nature's most gifted athletes trace their ancestry, according to Entine). And if any sport ever relied on speed, quickness, explosiveness and agility, certainly it is soccer.
I bring up these points to illustrate the absurdity and inconsistencies in attributing innate racial abilities of any particular group of people with regards to any particular sport. If African-descended players dominate basketball and baseball for their superior speed and agility, then why does this fail to yield results in soccer? "Racial realists" can not have their cake and eat it to.
Despite the failure to produce scientific evidence for black athletic superiority, I do like this book for one big reason. Entine provides an excellent account of the history of racism and racial politics of sports, from the days of Jack Johnson and the Negro Leagues of baseball up until the steroid scandals of communist East Germany and the USSR in the 1980s. We are given chapters on Joe Louis, Jewish basketball teams, Jackie Robinson, and the social significance of all of these historical events.
The real value of this book is found in its second half, when the author provides a nice account of race in sports throughout the 20th century. The fact of the matter is the right-wing lunatics have no ability to engage in scientific debate on race whatsoever. Their only recourse is to point out correlations, and assume there is a biological explanation. Such is not the nature of science, but the nature of charlatans motivated by personal agendas. Entine's lack of scientific evidence proves he can not discuss this subject matter, and as such, makes a bold claim and then sits back, labeling anyone who challenges him as a politically correct crackpot. The truth is, Entine and his backers are the ones motivated by political agendas.
Talk about false advertising. The book implies it will provide a scientific explanation for athletic performance, and does not even come close to doing anything of the sort.
Thoughtful book.......2004-08-16
I picked this book up because I run marathons and have become aware of the Kenyan domination of this event. What an eye-opener this book is! Jon Entine has very carefully explained how evolution has shaped different body types. I finally understand population genetics. He doesn't preach and "Taboo" doesn't ignore the cultural impact on sports accomplishments. In fact, if you have little interest in genetics, this book is a gem for understanding the history and travails of the African American athlete in the United States. I was also fascinated by his history of sports in the former Communist East Germany, which built its success on pumping its young women athletes full with performance enhancing durgs. This book is truly indispensible for anyone interested in a balanced look at the range of factors that contribute to the success of athletes. Anyone who suggests this book is "racist" just hasn't read it. It's the opposite -- a thoughtful discussion of why discussing human differences doesn't mean you have to resort to the lowest common denominator. And now I understand why Kenyans and other Eastern and Northern Africans are so dominant in endurance races.
Brave and important writing.......2004-08-07
Although it's not often discussed, among those who pay attention the wildly disproportionate success of black people in major sports is a reality so obvious it's just taken for granted these days. I've been watching the NFL religiously since I was about 11, and in that time I haven't seen a single successful white running back, and even the number of black quarterbacks is increasing as the game gets faster. Here in Massachusetts, nobody even wonders what country the Boston Marathon winner will come from, just which Kenyan will finish first. And of course, whites in the NBA are virtually nonexistent, except as backup centers. As its subtitle suggests, "Taboo" poses two central questions. First, why are black athletes so overrepresented in the above sports, and several others for that matter? Is it biology or culture? And why can't we have a reasoned discussion of the facts without accusations of "racism" being tossed around?
Fortunately, Jon Entine is committed to providing a comprehensive treatment of race differences and sports, and this book covers its subject with an approach that combines anthropology, sports history, and a bit of sociology to boot. Entine represents the full spectrum of opinion on this issue, giving racial demagogues on both sides enough rope to hang themselves before getting down to the facts. It's not until late in the book, in the chapter "Winning the Genetic Lottery," that Entine really gets into the genetic differences that give blacks an advantage over their peers in certain sports. As he notes, anyone has to put in a lot of work to become a star athlete, but "all the hard work in the world will go for naught if the roulette wheel of genetics doesn't land on your number." And Entine sites all sorts of evidence that that roulette wheel has landed in Africa more than in other places: sleeker musculatures; faster patellar tendon reflexes; higher levels of plasma testosterone; higher percentages of fast-twitch fibers; and in the case of East Africans, most notably Kenyans, much higher levels of running economy.
The book's case for why black athletes dominate sports, or at least many of the more popular ones, is certainly compelling. Of course, the book's second proposition, why we're afraid to talk about said dominance, is a bit trickier. In an effort to get to the bottom of the issue, Entine provides an exhaustive discussion of American sport's racial history and the obstacles that blacks have had to overcome over the past century or so. Around the turn of the century, as Entine shows, black access to sports, and everything else for that matter, was restricted by the common belief among whites that blacks were inferior morally (ummm, probably not), mentally (the jury's still out on that one), and physically (whoops!). Detailing the struggles of legendary black athletes from Jack Johson to Jesse Owens to Joe Louis, Entine writes that while the ultimate success of blacks in sports did manage to shatter the myth of white physical superiority, blacks wound up saddled with a new stereotype: their athletic success was merely a sign that blacks were a more primitive type of human than everyone else, with more brawn and less brains.
Of course, as Entine puts it, intelligence is "the elephant in the living room" when it comes to talking about race in sports, as black athletic success has led to the stereotype that IQ and athletic ability must be inversely proportional. As the book ultimately concludes, that's why there's so much reluctance to talk about this subject. After the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust, there was suddenly a rush to emphasize the shared humanity of all peoples, and this universalist ethic has ruled mainstream science to this day. Since studies of race differences have been used by people like Hitler to justify so much hateful nonsense, the current orthodoxy goes, it's better to just ignore the evidence of differing capacities even when it's staring us right in the face. Of course, just because racists have often distorted race science for their own nefarious ends doesn't mean it's all invalid. After all, failure to acknowledge reality is itself a prejudice whether it's well-intentioned or not, and nobody benefits when the elites try to prevent an objective analysis of the facts.
Although it can get a bit too politically correct at times, "Taboo" is still largely a candid and thorough analysis of a divisive and compelling topic. Entine's writing sytle is extremely straightforward for such complex subject matter, making the often tricky science of genetics, evolution, and society accessible to just about anyone who's interested. For sports fans it ranks right up there with Michael Lewis's brilliant "Moneyball" in the pantheon of thinking man's sports books. And for those who are just interested in controversial subjects, this book is still worth reading.
Book Description
Darwin's Athletes zeroes in on our society's fixation on black athletic achievement. John Hoberman compellingly argues that this obsession - one shared by both blacks and whites in the media, in corporate America, and even by athletes themselves - has come to play a disastrous role in African American life and a troubling role in our country's race relations. This sports fixation originates in the painful century-long exclusion of blacks from every other path to high achievement. The scarcity of other kinds of " race heroes " has conferred messianic status on the most popular black athletes, which has fostered a delusion of integration while contributing to deep social divisions. Rich, flamboyant superstars lend credence to age-old prejudices, recycled " scientific" theories denigrating black intelligence, and stereotypes of black violence. This athleticizing of black identity encourages a disdain for academic achievement already too widespread among black males. During the past centur
Customer Reviews:
excellent outside perspective on the Black potential problem.......2005-08-12
Well written and excellently presented book on the problematic of Black male Americans fixated in only sports. Author presents a solid case yet puts in his own perspective on why Blacks are not excelling at anything else but sports. I havent finished it but this is a keeper.
Penetrating Analysis of Sports Culture.......2001-07-24
It appears that many reviewers have missed what I perceive as Hoberman's point - that the emphasis of the black body as the locus of black identity necessarily de-emphasizes the intellectual capabilities and development of black people. The advertising, media, and sports industries all thrive on the perpetuation of black physical stereotypes that have existed since the first contacts between European and African. Just compare the press treatment of Larry Bird - as a careful, analytical, intelligent, under-control white man - with Shaq - as a biological freak whose sheer size makes up for his lack of gray matter. Such stereotypes of blacks as physical machines meant to entertain us are extremely damaging to black culture.
Intellectualism has been sacrificed to the sportive element in black culture, where academic success (unless in tandem with athletic excellence) is considered traitorous to black authenticity. The acceptable spheres of black self-expression - namely sport, negro music, and dance - are considered the only authentically black talents by both white and black culture. Such a stifling limitation should not be placed upon black culture, yet this is perpetuated everyday in our sporting culture and in our advertising media.
After you read this book, you will not be able to watch a sporting event without thinking about the exploitation of black athletes. Watch the commercials, read the ads, and you will realize that blacks are, more often than not, presented as mere physical beings whose animality precludes a deeper humanity.
Social stereotypes instead of Biological ones.......2000-02-29
Is sport really to blame for the suffering of black people in the West? Of course the special success of black athletes has a lot to do with the negative realities of racist society. But it also has something to do with the strength of people who have faced adversity and not given up, or at least have the drive to try to secure for themselves a future. Society depends on such people, so is it really a bad thing that they become role models? The "Black Cause", insofar as it does or should exist, is not retarded each time a black athlete crosses the finish line. But it is retarded every time a teacher expects less from a black kid, or a rich black superstar suddenly becomes content with the status quo, or a writer makes money by replacing a false biological stereotype (and it is false, I've done the research Jon Entine failed to do) with an equally false social one.
Don't let the title fool you.......2000-02-21
This is a provocative text that explores the fetishizing of the Black athletic body but don't let the title fool you. This book does more to chastize Black ntellectuals for not delving into the topic as he has, while maintaining that to elevate athletic achievement as "artistic" is ridiculous and only is evidence of Black inability to critically interrogate the mechanisms that commidifiy and objectify the Black body in sports. Hoberman provides a detailed history of the scientific construction of race, and his historical detail is actually very helpful. But the reader should know that Hoberman spends more time putting blame on Black intellectuals AND the Black community for romanticizing the Black athlete, not pushing for the youth to achieve intellectually (which to him is more superior than athletic ability), and for being blinded by our faith to big-money ballers than to the sports industry who help to construct the myth of the Black athlete and make both a fetish and a profit zone of his or her body. The more I read it I began to notice that his tone was actually self-congratulory: in accusing the Black community, intellectuals in particular, he sets himself on a pedestal. His statements have somewhat of a judgemental, superior tone, that's condescending and at times implicitly racist regardless of whether that's what he intended. This book provoked a reaction out of me and I can only conclude that he's blaming the wrong people here.
Hoberman Dares to Expose the Dirty Business of Sports.......1998-07-01
I purchase John Hoberman's book right after it was first published. This was in the spring of 1998. Prior to its release he appeared on a segment of Nightline, along with other guests, to discuss the effects of sports on african americans. As I recall he was the only white guest on the show. Ted Koppel introduced Dr Hoberman as a man who had written a controversial newly published book. When I heard this I naturally had to continue watching it so that I could learn it's title. Needless Hoberman was treated rather harshly by the other guests. For what I saw and heard I agreed with most of his comments. As a black man I have long thought that sports has had a very bad effect on blacks. I had the feeling that because Hoberman was going against the grain he would not be a guest on many shows. He was supposed to be on the president's race panel which was held in Houston dealing with sports. Anyway, I went out the next day and ordered the book. I think it a very accurate book on the adverse effects sports have had on the black community. It is a matter of fact that athletes are expected to maintain low academic standards. It is very acceptable to lead criminal life and still get excepted to elite colleges. Not all but some. It is a matter of fact that the NCAA sets academic guidelines that most universities except. For example. When we passed proposition 209 here in California athletes were not required to meet strict academic standards expected for other blacks. Before 209 athletes were admitted under affirmative action in the University of California system. They knew that athletes would no longer be able to enroll under the new standards. So they were removed and 209 became a gender, race and ethnic issue. The UC Berkeley rejected 4.0 black students with a SAT 1500 score. Just to let in a black athlete with a 2.5 GPA. And they make provisions for even the learning disabled athlete. The basketball's team GPA is 2.47. Again, black people get caught up in the belief that athletes ar! e an advancement of our race. Bottom line is only white people are profiting huge sums of money from this non-sense. Hoberman is right in many of his conclusions. I realize that Hoberman is a white man. And many black people think that he may be a racist. Okay, then lets try this. Go and read Nathan McCall's book "What's Going On". And read Earle Ofari Hutchinson's book "Assassination of The Black Male Image" These are blacks and they talk about the kinds of things Hoberman talks about. Maybe you can call them Uncle Toms. The fact is you would be hard pressed to find any institutions which seeks out people with the lowest standards/qualifications rather than the highest. Maybe it is good that many blacks are in the NBA, NFL, colleges. If they were'nt they be out on the street mugging, selling drugs, performing drive by shooting, raping and on and. Some of them do it anyway.
Average customer rating:
- A must read for all students and parents
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Your Brain Is a Muscle Too How Student Athletes Succeed in College and in Life
Andre Hayes
Manufacturer: Amistad
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ASIN: 0060198540 |
Book Description
Written by two former college athletes, Your Brain Is a Muscle Too is an essential guide to success in the classroom and on the play field for any student athlete.
Taking readers through all the steps toward success for student athletes -- from obtaining athletic scholarships to finding the right sports agent -- Your Brain Is a Muscle Too should be mandatory reading for every student athlete. Insightful tips range from how to adapt to the intensity of the college environment to how to most effectively study for exams and how to avoid the pressures of drugs and alcohol. While this book is invaluable for all students, it is the first book that addresses the specific concerns of African -Americans in a college setting.
Your Brain Is a Muscle Too offers guidance and heightens awareness in areas such as academics, interpersonal relations, money matters, time management, and the social transition from high school to college. It includes colorful anecdotes and candid advice, including contributions from Magic Johnson, Jimmy Jackson, and Kenny Smith.
Customer Reviews:
A must read for all students and parents.......2001-08-10
Through the media, we frequently hear about problems associated with athletes, such as drug abuse, illiteracy and low graduation rates. This book is written for the young athlete to help him or her avoid such pitfalls. It addresses issues such as steroid abuse, alcohol abuse and date rape. It also discusses NCAA requirements and athletic scholarships. In addition, it offers great tips on networking, budgeting, studying for exams effectively and maintaining self-discipline. With all of the pressures that young people face today, it is great to read a book whose purpose is to steer young people in a positive direction. I highly recommend it.
Book Description
Now available in a handsomely produced oversized paperback—with expanded information and 24 pages of black-and-white photographs—The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues documents more than four thousand players on Negro League teams from 1872 through 1950. Called "one of the best reference books of the year" by Library Journal and named an outstanding academic book of the year by the American Library Association, this is the first book to cover comprehensively the careers of all African Americans who played with a team of major-league quality or whose careers are featured in the history of America’s Pastime. It delivers a wealth of information, from vital statistics and the standard baseball figures of batting averages and pitching records to career data, including years of active play, positions played, team affiliations, and even nicknames. To create this one-of-a-kind reference, baseball authority James A. Riley traveled the country to interview the surviving members of the Negro Leagues about their exploits and the careers of their now-deceased teammates. With this invaluable firsthand information, Riley brings to life the careers of such greats as Satchel Paige, Ray Dandridge, Josh Gibson, and Leon Day. Looking past Jackie Robinson’s breaking of the color barrier in 1947, he profiles all Major League Hall of Fame players who also played in the Negro Leagues such as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, and Roy Campanella. “A landmark publication in the fields of baseball history and African-American history … a one-of-a-kind work.”—Booklist
Customer Reviews:
An Essential Addition To The Bibliography Of The Negro Leagues.......2007-01-09
Exactly What It's title advertises - an alphabetical listings of players and personalities associated with the Negro Leagues of Baseball. Ranks with "Only the Ball Was White" and The works of John B.Holway as essntial to a study of the subject. Definitely recommended.
Celebrate The Legacy.......2006-12-19
Editor James A. Riley is a renowned expert on the rich history of Negro League Baseball. His crowning achievement is honoring more than 4,000 players and those involved in management between the years of 1872-1950 in this comprehensive biographical encyclopedia.
Included are biographies and statistics on each individual and team, a bibliography that lists the materials used in the research, along with a register of the interviews that Riley conducted.
The Negro Leagues had a major economic and social impact in the black community, featured some of the greatest players & teams that the sport has ever had and was an integrated business on the diamond, inside the front offices and in the stands.
I have always compared the play in the Negro Leagues v. the white MLB to that of the AFL v. NFL and ABA v. NBA; that it was on par or superior to the other major league. The encyclopedia is a celebration of the legacy left by those who not only challenged the institutionalized racial hatred of the times, but triumphed in ways that we can learn from and must never forget.
If You Love Baseball..........2001-08-08
...I question that love if you do not have this book. This is the most concise collection of biographies, stats, and information about every human involved with the development, management, and participation in every Negro League that ever existed. Even players whose first name was not known is listed with at least a few words about when they played and for whom. And the players with extensive history is detailed along with stats and other great side stories about them. There is even information on the teams in the Negro Leagues, which I found most interesting. I don't know of any other book that has as much information on the lesser-known players and behind-the-scenes people in the Negro Leagues than this one. If you are a Negro League fan, you probably already have this book. But if you are a baseball fan in general, you MUST have this book.
Books:
- TRUE PROFESSIONALISM : The Courage to Care About Your People, Your Clients, and Your Career
- U.S. Presidents and Foreign Policy: From 1789 to the Present
- Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir
- 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life
- A Long Way from Home (Multi-Ethnic Literatures of the Americas)
- A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
- A Perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder--How Crammed Closets, Cluttered Offices, and On-the-Fly Planning Make the World a Better Place
- A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- African American Childhoods: Historical Perspectives from Slavery to Civil Rights
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