Harry Edwards
Dr Harry Edwards is a renowned US based sociologist and author whose distinguished career has focused on the connections between race, sport and society. His book The Revolt of the Black Athlete and his work with United Black Students for Action underpinned the Olympic Project for Human Rights movement, which influenced the iconic winner’s podium protest by Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968, supported by Peter Norman.
The Olympic Project for Human Rights was established by Dr. Edwards and multiple Black American athletes in 1967. The purpose of the group was to advocate for civil rights and human rights for Black people in the United States and abroad (such as South Africa), along with protesting racism in sport in general.
Dr. Edwards' writing and research has focused on developments at the interface of sport, race and society, particularly as it pertains to the experiences of African-Americans. He has written and published scores of articles on the challenges of diversity within the institution of sport demonstrating the potential and promise of the Sociology of Sport - a discipline that he pioneered – to enlighten and to illuminate paths of progressive advancement.
Dr. Edwards has contributed the course and content of both academic and popular press analyses of sports-related issues. Aside from these avenues of influence, Dr. Edwards has also appeared in the media on every major sports and news network and contributed to dozens of documentaries focused on sport and society.