Mascot Nation: The Controversy over Native American Representations in Sports

by Andrew C. Billings, Jason Edward Black

The issue of Native American mascots in sports raises passions but also a raft of often-unasked questions. Which voices get a hearing in an argument? What meanings do we ascribe to mascots? Who do these Indians and warriors really represent? Andrew C. Billings and Jason Edward Black go beyond the media bluster to reassess the mascot controversy. Their multi-dimensional study delves into the textual, visual, and ritualistic and performative aspects of sports mascots. Their original research, meanwhile, surveys sports fans themselves on their thoughts when a specific mascot faces censure. The result is a book that merges critical-cultural analysis with qualitative data to offer an innovative approach to understanding the camps and fault lines on each side of the issue, the stakes in mascot debates, whether common ground can exist and, if so, how we might find it.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 8, 2018

About the author

Andrew C. Billings is the Ronald Reagan Chair of Broadcasting and Director of the Alabama Program in Sports Communication at the University of Alabama, USA. He has published eight books and over 80 journal articles and book chapters, with the majority focusing on the intersection of sports media and identity.

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Up front: If you're a sports fan, passing by this book and think the subject matter is not for you, then allow me to inform that yes, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

If you're interested in a proper education (could be a sea of reasons to that regard: You're unsure how to act or if you're being offensive, you want to know what the other side really thinks, etc.) of the issue, then you've come to the right place. The authors, Billings and Black, frame the book by not trying to explode the side they oppose, but by circling the issue, exploring the various ways we are approaching our Native American mascots, why this subset of mascots is markedly different than the others, and, really, they're just getting started.

I advise against scoffing and labeling this book as some instrument of the social justice warrior; what you have here is a work that aims to literally make you a better human---to be more cognizant of another group, and to be aware that, despite the fact that these sports cultures have evolved with illustrious histories all their own, that they're still rooted/steeped in appropriation and bad juju. Billings and Black don't leave pro-mascot groups in the dark, either; they walk up to the issue with reverence for that particular side, knowing full well the affection and ties that bind us to sports teams.

There's a heavy reliance in some chapters on social media responses and survey results, and therein you have a connection to the people, making cases in their own words, as opposed to Billings and Black regurgitating said results. It spices up the read.

You don't read something like this and then go turn you nose up to, say, FSU alumni or Redskins fans. Mascot Nation wants you to really think about this issue, to observe and respect the Native American history, and to truly get a grip on what this argument truly entails. It's not trying to broadcast a solution (even though they do offer up some avenues for a path forward), but it's trying to progress and espouse some sort of moral equilibrium.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to the University of Illinois Press for the advance read.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mascots and imagery of Native American symbols, themes, etc. have been an ongoing issue in the US. From the Washington, D.C. area football team to the Cleveland baseball team, etc. you've probably seen the mascots and by now you've possibly heard about objections from tribes, nations and peoples over the use by sports teams.

Admittedly I'm not a huge sports fan but I was still interested in this. Unfortunately this wasn't the book for me. I found the language to be very dense and academic. It felt like yet another thesis repackaged into a book. I appreciated the authors' approach: exploring how and why we got these mascots, what its effects are and the case as to why it matters.

It's definitely an important book and there's a lot to consider. That said, it's not the most digestible book and a reader might want to consider really taking its time with it.

Library borrow for me. A purchase might be good if you need it as a reference.

[Mark Beattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors are both academics, so the structure, flow, and writing style are what you'd expect. That said, this was a very easy book to read. Billings and Black do a nice job introducing the reader to the controversy over Native American mascots, and arguments both for and against. They conclude by offering some possible steps forward for resolving this controversy. Recommended for sports fans and cultural observers/thinkers alike!

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great examination of the Native American mascot debate in sports. Some teams obviously are more entrenched in the debate than others, but all sides are researched for this book. It is an interesting read, especially for those fans with a rooting interest in a team with a Native American mascot.

[Katherine Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. While it is an academic book, it does a good job contextualizing the mascot debate at a variety of levels. It is clear, well written, and engaging. I really appreciate that the authors used interviews, surveys, and rhetorical/critical analysis to uncover the reasons why mascot controversies persist.

[Leslie Heaphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, highly academic and case based approach.

[Toyin Spades · Rating 4 out of 5]

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