150 Years of Black Activism in Sports, With Dr. Harry Edwards

150 Years of Black Activism in Sports, With Dr. Harry Edwards

On this episode of Edge of Sports, the renowned sociologist joins the show to reflect on the 1968 Olympics, Colin Kaepernick, and much more.

Dave Zirin
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150 Years of Black Activism In Sports | Edge of Sports
byThe Nation Magazine

The central place of sports in American life lends immense influence to athletes to shift the culture of the country—and for more than 150 years, Black athletes have done just that. Few scholars are as attuned to the intricacies of this history as renowned sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards. From his role in shaping the events of the 1968 Olympics to the politics of Colin Kaepernick, Edwards is just as much a participant in this history as a student and teacher of it. Now 80 years old, Dr. Harry Edwards joins Edge of Sports as he embarks on his "Last Lectures," a final project to close his long career as a public intellectual.

Dr. Harry Edwards is a renowned sociologist whose work examines the relationship between race, sports, and politics. He is the author of The Revolt of the Black Athlete.

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The central place of sports in American life lends immense influence to athletes to shift the culture of the country. For more than 150 years, Black athletes have done just that.

Few scholars are as attuned to the intricacies of this history as renowned sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards. From his role in shaping the events of the 1968 Olympics to the politics of Colin Kaepernick, Edwards is just as much a participant in this history as a student and teacher of it. Now 80 years old, Edwards joins Edge of Sports as he embarks on his “Last Lectures” –a final project to close his long career as a public intellectual.

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Dave Zirin Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is also the coproducer and writer of the new documentary Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL.


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