"The value of Gems’ book is that it can teach its reader so much on so many different levels, from learning about the plight of Italian-Americans in the United States to the vicissitudes of popular culture and ultimately sport’s participation in both. . . . This book is an enriching study of how sport has shaped and continues to shape our understanding of our lives and of both our individual and communal identities."—Aethlon: The Journal of Sport Literature
"This excellent book is fascinating and well written, and it will be of great interest to historians, anthropologists, sociologists, and, of course, specialists in the history of sport."—Journal of Sport History
"Gems reminds readers that there are Italian Americans participating at the highest levels in all facets of American life, including sports, and there is quite probably one who will reprise DiMaggio’s role of iconic American hero with strong ties to his or her Italian-American family, community, and culture."—Journal of American Culture
"The value of Gems’ book is that it can teach its reader so much on so many different levels, from learning about the plight of Italian-Americans in the United States to the vicissitudes of popular culture and ultimately sport’s participation in both. . . . This book is an enriching study of how sport has shaped and continues to shape our understanding of our lives and of both our individual and communal identities."—AETHLON: The Journal of Sport Literature
Description
Gems traces the experience of the Italian immigrant and illustrates the ways in which sports helped Italian-Americans adapt to a new culture, assert pride in an ethnic identity, and even achieve social advancement. Employing historical, sociological, and anthropological studies, Gems explores how sports were instrumental in helping notions of identity evolve from the individual to the community, from the racial to the ethnic. In doing so, Sport and the Shaping of Italian-American Identity transcends the study of a particular ethnic group to speak to foundational values and characteristics of the American ethos.
About the Author
Gerald R. Gems is professor in the Health and Physical Education Department at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He is the author of numerous books, including The Athletic Crusade: Sport and American Cultural Imperialism.
December 2013