Smashing Barriers


Book Description

This book blends an insider's critique of the race politics of the sports industry withand activist's crusade against racial injustice.




Breaking Barriers


Book Description

"Travel in Tokugawa Japan was officially controlled by bakufu and domainal authorities via an elaborate system of barriers, or sekisho, and travel permits; commoners, however, found ways to circumvent these barriers, frequently ignoring the laws designed to control their mobility, in this study, Constantine Vaporis challenges the notion that this system of travel regulations prevented widespread travel, maintaining instead that a “culture of movement” in Japan developed in the Tokugawa era. Using a combination of governmental documentation and travel literature, diaries, and wood-block prints, Vaporis examines the development of travel as recreation; he discusses the impact of pilgrimage and the institutionalization of alms-giving on the freedom of movement commoners enjoyed. By the end of the Tokugawa era, the popular nature of travel and a sophisticated system of roads were well established: Vaporis explores the reluctance of the bakufu to enforce its travel laws, and in doing so, beautifully evokes the character of the journey through Tokugawa Japan."




Breaking the Color Barrier


Book Description

The history of sports and race is messy. In baseball Jackie Robinson is universally touted as the first black major league player, which conveniently forgets Moses Fleetwood Walker and other players of color who appeared on 19th century diamonds. Football deals with the messiness a different way. The sport employs the term "modern era" instead. So Kenny Washington is the first black player of the "modern era." James Harris was the first black quarterback to start an NFL game in the "modern era." Art Shell was the first black head coach of the "modern era." The reason football has to append the qualifier to its historical racial milestones is because there was a man who was doing all those things back when the National Football League began. His name was Fritz Pollard, and this is his story.




Smashing Barriers


Book Description

Filled with stories about sports figures like Muhammad Ali, Roberto Clemente, Tony Elliot, Tiger Woods, and Venus and Serena Williams, this new edition describes the changing face of diversity in sport (the growing numbers of Latino and female college and professional athletes). He addresses the value of youth athletic programs; the dangers of new racial stereotypes; and the importance of educating athletes to better balance sports and education fame and social responsibility.




Vitagraph


Book Description

Winner of the 2022 Peter C. Rollins Book Award and the 2022 Browne Best Edited Reference/Primary Source Work in Popular and American Culture Award In Vitagraph: America's First Great Motion Picture Studio, Andrew A. Erish provides a comprehensive examination and reassessment of the company most responsible for defining and popularizing the American movie. This history challenges long-accepted Hollywood mythology that Paramount and Fox invented the feature film, that Universal created the star system, and that these companies, along with MGM and Warner Bros., developed motion pictures into a multimillion-dollar business. In fact, the truth about Vitagraph is far more interesting than the myths that later moguls propagated about themselves. Established in 1897 by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith, Vitagraph was the leading producer of motion pictures for much of the silent era. Vitagraph established America's studio system, a division of labor utilizing specialized craftspeople and artists and developed fundamental aspects of American movies, from framing, lighting, and performance style to emphasizing character-driven comedy and drama in stories that respected and sometimes poked fun at every demographic of Vitagraph's vast audience. For most of its existence America's most influential studio was headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, before relocating to Hollywood. A historically rigorous and thorough account of the most influential producer of American motion pictures during the silent era, Erish draws on valuable primary material long overlooked by other historians to introduce readers to the fascinating, forgotten pioneers of Vitagraph.




Touchdown


Book Description

American football is the most popular, and controversial, sport in the United States, and a massive industry. The NFL’s revenues are over $13 billion annually. The Super Bowl is watched by half of US television households and is televised in over 150 countries. Touchdown: An American Obsession is the first comprehensive guide to the history and culture of the sport, covering US college football as well as professional football worldwide. The editors and authors are among the world’s leading sports scholars. They cover race, ethnicity, religion, gender, social class, and globalization, as well as recent scandals and controversies, the importance of television, and the art and aesthetics of the game. Touchdown: An American Obsession is a readable, authoritative guide for Americans as well as an introduction for people around the world.




Fearless


Book Description

Are you tired of the constant marginalization and exclusion of women in the world of combat sports? Do you feel like you don't have a voice in a male-dominated field? "Fearless" is the ultimate guide to understanding and overcoming the challenges faced by women in the world of cage fighting. This book explores the historical exclusion of women in combat sports, the intersectional feminism in cage fighting, the psychology of women in this brutal sport, and the physicality and risks women face. It also discusses the role of women in shaping cage fighting, the spiritual and religious aspects, the media representation, and the future of women in this sport. Additionally, it covers the impact of social media, economic realities, political issues, and argues for the superiority of women in cage fighting. In "Fearless", you'll find answers to your questions and learn how to: 1. Understand the historical context of women's oppression in combat sports. 2. Recognize and navigate the ways in which race, class, and gender intersect in the narratives of women who cage fight. 3. Manage the motivations, challenges, and rewards that women face in choosing a career in cage fighting. 4. Learn about the physical demands, risks, and the importance of training, nutrition, and injury prevention. 5. Discover the contributions of women as coaches, trainers, promoters, and fighters. 6. Understand the role of religious beliefs and spiritual practices in the lives and careers of women cage fighters. 7. Explore the evolution of the image and representation of women in cage fighting in media and popular culture. 8. Speculate on potential future developments and opportunities for women in the world of cage fighting. Don't let your voice be silenced any longer. If you want to challenge the status quo, understand the struggle, and change the game, then buy this book today. Become 'Fearless' and join the revolution in combat sports.




4D Impact


Book Description

The 4D Church takes a critical and inspirational look at four aspects of 21st century church ministry: Technology, Hospitality, Worship, and Systems. Each of these aspects is key for developing vital churches and healthy church leaders. The author uses real life lessons from the 11-year journey of Impact Church, which is currently #5 out of the 100 fastest growing United Methodist congregations in the United States, and examples from churches and the market place, to inform, equip, and inspire the reader. The 4D Church offers: a diagnostic tool in each chapter to determine the current health and status of the reader’s church, real time inspiration from practitioners who are experiencing health and growth, guidance for readers to discern their level of fitness for their church assignment—is the leader/reader well-matched, or mismatched?, and guidance for readers to determine if their church has reached a point of irreversible decline. From the 4D Impact Introduction: "I have been blessed to serve as the founding and lead pastor of what one of [the] original twenty-five leaders called a 'movement.' Twelve years ago we didn't set out to plant another United Methodist church—we envisioned a movement...I have learned a few things about church health and growth from my own experience as a church planner and from the many churches across the country that our team has supported and consulted with over the years. I have learned that the capital-C Church is full of grace, and I've learned that hard work and sacrifice are necessary for a local church to be vital and growing... This book is for all churches and church leaders seeking to become vital and growing, or to remain vital and growing. This book may challenge you—I hope in a healthy way. It centers on four key principles for developing healthy and growing churches that smash barriers: Technology, Hospitality, Worship, and Systems. I am a living witness to these principles. As we say at Impact Church, you aren't called to lead an ordinary church; you are called to lead a movement."




Women's American Football


Book Description

A history of women playing American football in the United States, focused on the growth of the game since the passage of Title IX in 1972.




Rugged Waters


Book Description