From Carlisle to Bradford: The media, stereotypes, football, and American Indians

Abstract

Racial stereotypes were a prominent issue in the media's coverage of American Indians throughout the twentieth century. In this study, it is football, both collegiate and professional, that the media used to base their racial attitudes. By using the examples of well-known American Indian football players such as Jim Thorpe, Wahoo McDaniel, Sonny Sixkiller, and Sam Bradford one can ascertain the evolution of racial stereotypes in the media's coverage, and how those individuals reacted to that exposure. American Indian football players throughout the years dealt with stereotypes that portrayed them as warriors, savages, and, sometimes, as control drunkards. For many of these players, they also had to contend with the shadow of the great Jim Thorpe, as many members of the media drew comparisons between all of these Native American football players in their stories.