October 17

History Forum with Prof. Rob Ruck

Tropic of Football: The Long and Perilous Journey of Samoans to the NFL
Wednesday, October 17th
Sakamaki Hall A201
UH History Department Seminar Room
12:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Prof. Rob Ruck (University of Pittsburgh) will discuss his recently published book, “Tropic of Football: The Long and Perilous Journey of Samoans to the NFL.” Why are Samoans so disproportionately represented in the NFL and among the stars of professional football? What do the common images of those players mean and how do such players exemplify not only professional culture, but also the fa’a Samoa, or the way of Samoa?

Sponsored by the Center for Pacific Island Studies, American Studies, and U.H. Mānoa History Department. The talk is free and open to the public. Please feel free to contact Prof. Peter H. Hoffenberg at peterh@hawaii.edu or 956-8497.

Image source: Pittsburgh Quarterly