Mascot Nation

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.

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 histories all their own, that they're still rooted/steeped in appropriation and bad juju. Billingsn 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 the 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.

MASCOT NATION by Andrew C. Billings and Jason Edward Black will definitely be of interest to our students who are pursuing questions about the controversy over Native American representations in sports. The authors, both university professors, utilize their expertise in broadcasting and communications to provide a reasoned, balanced approach to the subject. They cite many examples at both the professional level (Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves) and college one (Florida State Seminoles and the now-retired University of Illinois’ Chief Illiniwek). In fact, there is an entire chapter on the "Online Debate on the Acceptability of the Washington NFL Mascot" where Billings and Black discuss how an increasing number of journalists refused to use that name. They provide historical background, outline concerns of Native Americans, delve into specific cases, review national polling data and more, although often in an academic, jargon-laden manner (e.g., self-categorization, post colonialism). Throughout, they are respectful of both sides of the argument, acknowledging fans' affection for their team as well as concerns over appropriation and mis-representation. The text concludes with a discussion of five avenues where change may be possible: line of decivility; education; economic pressure; journalistic protest; and legal challenges. Roughly fifteen percent of the book is devoted to notes and index.

Mascot Nation focuses on the controversy over Native American Representation in Sports. To be honest I watch a decent amount of sports but have never really thought about how Native Americans are represented especially at the mascot level. I know that news picks up every now and then about wanting to change some of the mascots to something different, but change never really seems to happen. This book goes into more detail about that and how there are polls that seem to be skewed to say that Native Americans aren't offended by it - and if they aren't, why should anyone else be? But most of these polls taken can't prove that only those voting were Native Americans.

This book focuses more on the academics of the issue and it definitely opened my eyes a bit and will have me looking at this controversy in a different way now.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated. This book was released October 8, 2018 through University of Illinois Press.

This was a very informative book on the controversy of college and professional sports teams using mascots depicting Native Americans. It was fair and for a scholarly book, a surprisingly easy read