Have you considered that a career in applied sociology can take you to the big leagues? American sports sociologist, Dr Harry Edwards, has recently reflected on the current dynamics of civil rights in the USA, and his optimism for future change. Dr Edwards is known as the architect of the 1968 Olympics protest and one of the pioneers of the sociology of sport. He has been working as a sports consultant for over 40 years. Dr Edwards is an inspiration to sociology students, as his activism on campus led to his professional practice.

Student protest

As a PhD student and student athlete at Cornell University in 1967, Dr Edwards led the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR). The project had four aims:

1. to stage international protest on systematic human rights abuses of Black people in the USA
2. to expose America’s historical exploitation of Black athletes as a tool of political propaganda
3. to establish political responsibility among Black athletes, and
4. to make Black people aware of the hidden dynamics and consequences of their involvement in sports.

This movement went on to inspire Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who were OPHR members, in raising their fists in a Black power salute, whilst standing on the 200-metre medal stand during the 1968 Summer Olympics, in Mexico City. Smith won gold and Carlos won bronze. Their stance showed solidarity for Black Americans facing racism and poverty, as well as the human rights of workers. (White Australian, Peter Norman, won silver and wore a OPHR badge in solidarity.)

Despite his significant scholarship, Dr Edwards faced surveillance, discrimination and job insecurity due to initial backlash from the Olympics protest.

In 2005, San José State University, where Dr Edwards, Smith and Carlos studied, went on to honour the two Olympians with a statue known as the ‘Victory Salute.’ The statue was conceived by current students who raised funding for the project.

Sports sociology

Dr Edwards is now a Professor Emeritus at UC Berkeley. He was one of the pioneers of sports sociology in the USA, publishing ‘The Revolt of the Black Athlete’ in 1969, and ‘Sociology of Sport’ in 1973.

In 1985, he started working as a consultant with the American football team, the San Francisco 49ers, as well as providing career life coaching for athletes. Since then, Dr Edwards has worked with major league sports associations to increase recruitment of Black professionals in front office and coaching positions. Dr Edwards worked with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh develop a player engagement department. They implemented programs to assist the professional development of players. This includes a program that assists NFL athletes to complete their bachelor’s degree, and a fellowship to increase the number of NFL minority coaches.

Dr Edwards mentored Colin Kaepernick, a 49rs athlete who inspired a transformative civil rights movement in American sports, through his support for Black Lives Matter, shining light on police brutality in 2016.

In 2024, Dr Edwards was honoured by the 49rs with the Inspire Change Changemaker award, recognising community leaders. Dr Edwards has matched the $10,000 donation he received from the NFL Foundation and donated the funds to an organisation he collaborates with, Heritage Home.

Civil rights

In a recent interview with CBS News (watch below), Dr Edwards says that concerns about fear of change and misinformation is leading to ‘dark days ahead’ in the USA. However, he sees that new social movements will continue to emerge in response to these challenges.

‘One of the things that has become quite clear is that women are going to play an increasing role in that next effort.  I’m not concerned that we don’t see the leadership for that… Nobody saw Dr. King coming, a 26 year old preacher from Birmingham, Alabama.  But the one thing I’m absolutely positive about is that SHE’S on her way because that’s where I think we are as a society.’

(It’s noteworthy that Dr King was also a ‘public sociologist par excellence,’ with a Bachelor’s in sociology and a PhD in theology.)

Dr Edwards continues to work in sports sociology consultancy, despite a terminal bone cancer diagnosis.

Learn More

Read more of the interview with Dr Edwards: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/sports-sociologist-civil-rights-dr-harry-edwards-america-inflection-point/

Listen to a keynote from 2020, where Dr Edwards discusses sports as an instrument of Social Change

Read an analysis of sociology of sports journal articles from 1984 to 2014, showing how race is one of the key topics studied (open access): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16138171.2018.1475098#d1e176