Full Dissidence

Notes from an Uneven Playing Field

By: Howard Bryant

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Hardcover | 21 January 2020

At a Glance

Hardcover
200 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.2 x 14.6 x 1.7

Hardcover

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Collection of essays by award-winning sports writer that examine the colliding underbellies of race, sports, politics and culture in America.

Perhaps more than at any other time in our history, sports are reflecting, and even driving, some of the most divisive issues in America. The National Football League reports revenues of more than $13 billion, yet it is mired in a deepening twilight, stemming from a lethal combination of head trauma, racial and labor tension, politics, and greed. NFL athletes -- 70 percent of whom are African American -- have seen patriotism cheaply monetized by both the owners and the U.S. Department of Defense. Major League Baseball, once the most popular sport in the country and our national pastime, is stagnant. The sport that gave us Jackie Robinson's gallantry and courage is played by a dwindling number of African American players. Of the major sports leagues, only the National Basketball Association serves as a kind of conscience, with outspoken, high-profile black players and white coaches both refusing the a historical edict of "stick to sports."

Whether the issues are protest, labor, patriotism, or class division, it is clear that sports are no longer simply fun and games. Rather, they are a hotbed of fractures that define their respective industries and provide allegories for society at large. It is this spirit of sports and societal intersectionality that informs the nine essays -- all original -- in Full Dissidence.

A bold and daring collection, Full Dissidence wisely extends award-winning sportswriter Howard Bryant beyond the final scores on game day and towards the racialized politics in athletics. He writes about corporate assault on civil liberties, the collisions of race and identity, and the kleptocracy that has forced America to ask itself if its beliefs of freedom and democracy are more than just words.

Perched firmly at the intersection of sports, politics and pop culture, Full Dissidence speaks to the continued influence of sports in the mainstream in a way that is at once brilliant and arresting.

Industry Reviews

"A series of forceful, justifiably angry essays connected by the theme of white supremacy negating the full citizenship of black Americans . . . . Another illuminating social and cultural critique from an important contemporary voice."
--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Senior ESPN writer Bryant showcases why he is one of the most talented writers of this generation in thoughtful essays . . . [an] in-depth analysis and examination of issues. Highly recommended: Bryant is a masterful writer and a voice of this generation. His passion and analysis on important topics is unparalleled."
--Library Journal, Starred Review

"Not much comfort here, only light."
--Booklist

"[A] wide-ranging and sharp-edged essay collection . . . .Bryant's informed analyses and righteous anger transform sports into a valuable lens and tool for examining and combatting racism. Progressive sports fans will heed this incisive cri de coeur."
--Publishers Weekly

"This collection of essays is everything I hold dear, a searing rejection of everything racist America holds dear inside and outside the lines. Howard Bryant does not hold back in his withering and thoughtful dissections and rejections of the racial politics of athletics and the athletic politics of race. This book is an oracle."
--Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist

"This book is a wonder. Bryant tells daring truths about our culture and society--and explores, in all its complexity, what it means to navigate and struggle against injustice and a deeply divided world."
--Naomi Klein, author of On Fire and This Changes Everything

"Howard Bryant's writing is lucid and purposeful, weaving politics and powerful critiques of the racial and gendered hierarchies that rule the world of high-stakes professional sports throughout his gripping prose. Sports may be his starting point, but Bryant is attacking capitalist culture and its infiltration into all aspects of our lives, including the games we love to watch to get away from it all."
--Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation

"To call Full Dissidence fiery would miss the point. Its passion is matched by precision. Howard Bryant has written a stirring tour de force that places important issues of sports in the proper context of their current times and historical precedent, and the result is a book that will be read for years to come as we try to make sense of these chaotic times."
--Bomani Jones, co-host, High Noon

"This is exceptional. The facts of where we are, are laid out. Howard's opinions are not baseless or overreactions but based on facts that confirm every assertion he makes. Full Dissidence is a compelling book."
--Joe Dumars, three-time NBA champion, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame

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