Sport and the Shaping of Civic Identity in Chicago

(Hardback)

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This study uses sociological and historical methodologies to analyze the role of sport in the formation of urban identity in Chicago. The author traces the transformation of Chicago from a frontier town to a commercial behemoth, examining its role as an immigration, transportation, and entertainment hub. The author argues that, as a pioneering leader in American sport history, Chicago allowed teams and athletes to forge a unique national and global identity. This thorough and well-researched study makes a major contribution to debates on the social and psychological functions of sport culture.

Reviews

This latest study by Gerald R. Gems provides readers with his usual excellent research and writing. Gems gives in-depth analysis of what sports have meant to both the city of Chicago and its varied inhabitants, scrutinizing how all manner of athletic undertakings have impacted a variety of racial, ethnic, and religious groups. This study shows not only how Chicagoan sport culture has brought communities together, but also how it has shaped local identities and contributed to the construction of civic space. This book should serve as a model for any study of a large metropolitan areas relationship with all levels of sport for years to come. -- Jorge Iber, Texas Tech University

Author Bio

Gerald R. Gems is professor emeritus at North Central College.