The making of a people's champion: An analysis of media representations of George Foreman

Abstract

The present essay attempts to uncover possible reasons for George Foreman's dramatic upsurge in popularity. The major argument advanced is that Foreman's largely media created image incorporates several features closely related to traditional stereotypes of the African‐American male. More specifically, it is argued that Foreman is presented and presents himself as what Geist (1983) terms the “rural sambo” that is, a sort of “ignorant, fun‐loving buffoon.” Support for this argument comes from a variety of artifacts, among them, published interviews with Foreman, newspaper and periodical articles about Foreman, and commercials in which Foreman appears. The essay concludes by arguing that representations of African‐American athletes deserve the same type of critical attention given to the representation of African‐Americans in film and television.