The Sports Revolution: How Texas Changed the Culture of American Athletics

During the civil rights and second-wave feminist movements, Texas had a significant impact on American sports culture. This book explores how the state's history, demographics, and political climate shaped sports and society, highlighting the alliances and conflicts that emerged. It argues that Texas was at the center of America's expanding political, economic, and emotional investments in sport, both for better and for worse.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2023
Publisher: University of Texas Press

In the vibrant tapestry of American sports culture, the story of Texas' profound impact during the civil rights and second-wave feminist movements unfolds, offering a fresh and insightful perspective on the state and the nation as a whole. The 1960s and 1970s witnessed a seismic shift in the sporting landscape, marked by the emergence of new professional sports franchises and leagues, the construction of state-of-the-art stadiums, the soaring popularity of football and basketball, and the advent of television, which brought fans from all corners of the country together in support of their favorite teams and athletes. Simultaneously, the civil rights and feminist movements were reshaping the very fabric of society, expanding the boundaries of social and political participation.

The Sports Revolution, authored by Frank Guridy, delves into the intricate interplay between these two transformative forces in the Lone Star State. Spanning from the end of Jim Crow to the 1980s, Guridy chronicles the remarkable alliances that brought professional and collegiate sports together, paving the way for the emergence of women's tennis. He explores the complex dynamics of inclusion and exclusion that emerged during this era, shedding light on the role played by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in defining womanhood in the age of second-wave feminism. Guridy intricately weaves together the threads of the sexual revolution, desegregation, and changing demographics, revealing how they unfolded both on and off the field. He recounts the transformation of the Washington Senators into the Texas Rangers, the resurgence of professional basketball in San Antonio through the support of Mexican American fans, and the profound impact these changes had on the sporting landscape.

Guridy argues that the catalysts for these significant shifts were ultimately undone by the forces of commercialization that set them in motion. He reveals how Texas played a central role in America's expanding political, economic, and emotional investments in sport, shaping the future of sports culture in profound ways. Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, The Sports Revolution offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between sports, society, and the ever-evolving dynamics of American history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781477328576