The Revolt of the Black Athlete

by Harry Edwards

The Revolt of the Black Athlete hit sport and society like an Ali combination. This Fiftieth Anniversary edition of Harry Edwards's classic of activist scholarship arrives even as a new generation engages with the issues he explored. Edwards's new introduction and afterword revisit the revolts by athletes like Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos. At the same time, he engages with the struggles of a present still rife with racism, double-standards, and economic injustice. Again relating the rebellion of black athletes to a larger spirit of revolt among black citizens, Edwards moves his story forward to our era of protests, boycotts, and the dramatic politicization of athletes by Black Lives Matter. Incisive yet ultimately hopeful, The Revolt of the Black Athlete is the still-essential study of the conflicts at the interface of sport, race, and society.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, History, Race, Politics, Sociology, Cultural

264 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1969

About the author

Harry Edwards (1942) is an American sociologist and civil rights activist. He completed his Ph.D. at Cornell University and is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. Edwards' career has focused on the experiences of African-American athletes.

Reviews

[Stacie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The image on the cover of The Revolt of the Black Athlete explains it all: Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the podium at the 1968 Olympics with a fists raised in the air, head down, during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. It’s an image that evokes strong emotions in many. In the year that Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered after fighting for Civil Rights and preaching non-violence two black men protested at the Olympics for the equality that Black people in the United States were still not experiencing. In this book written by Harry Edwards then a professor at San Jose State College and leader of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, the group protesting the involvement of Black athletes in the 1968 Olympics, documents the journey of the movement and the struggle of the Black athlete throughout history.

Informative and well written Edwards tell the story from his point of view and experiences. As a collegiate athlete, scholar and professor his first-hand experience at S.J.S.C and then later with O.P.H.R. gives this novel a sense of validity and purpose. The anger and injustice he feels are evident on each page. The treatment of African-Americans and the debate on their position in society is one that definitely needed to be discussed then and in the era of outrage over Kaepernick taking a knee during the National Anthem still needs to be discussed now. It begs for the reader to wonder how much has really changed in American society that Black people still feel the need to protest. I enjoyed this book. I felt it was educational and honest. The history of the O.P.H.R. is one that is as relevant today as it was then. I only wish this update version would have reflected more on what this story means to Black athletes now and how they have been affected by demonstrations in the 1960s.

[dkaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading...super accessible. Incredibly poignant due to current circumstances in sport protest

[Lance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a very good book and while it was written decades ago, this is still a very relevant topic given today's events. My rating should be closer to 3 1/2 stars, however, as it moves at a very slow and methodical pace. Not a book to pick up if you are looking for a light read, but if you are a detail-oriented reader, this one will work.

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an image most of us know: two men on a podium in the middle of a sports field, black gloved fists raised in the air while a third man – this time White – sharing the podium stands solemnly and wearing the same badge of protest as the two other athletes. It is Mexico City, 1968, and Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Peter Norman create perhaps the single most iconic photo of sport related political protest – and like all successful and effective protests, it was planned. The specifics weren’t planned; in no way could medal winners be known ahead of the moment, but it was planned that if possible medal winners would do something. Smith & Carlos paid a price – stripped of their medals, expelled from the US team and Olympic Village they were sent home in no uncertain terms to vitriolic attacks from the mainstream media and sporting and wider commentariat.

Not only was it planned, but like all good protests it was part of something much bigger. The story of the sport-based civil rights movement and the Olympic Project for Human Rights is told well in Harry Edwards excellent, foundational text here republished 50 years after the event (Edwards was at the centre of this movement and its principal organiser). One of the key texts marking the emergence of sociological studies of sport as well as a key analysis from within the movement struggling for Black liberation, The Revolt of the Black Athlete tells a story that more should know. Crucially, it places African-American athletes in their community, highlighting the shameless and blatant oppression and disadvantage heaped on young Black scholar-athletes that reminded them that they may have made it to higher education but there was nothing egalitarian about the world they lived in or the opportunities they had. Originally published in 1969, in the era of Black Lives Matter, of the lock-out imposed on Colin Kaepernick, of the continuing anti-racist protests staged by athletes, cheerleaders and others involved in US sport, this engaging and evocative book still both packs a punch and retains a level of relevance it should not have after nearly 50 years. It is a vital piece of sports history and remains, alarmingly, a current piece of sport sociology.

It is also a powerful insight into social movement studies. Edwards explores the specifics of several events that take us inside the details of organising and remind us that these were, indeed, different slower times. It provides a fine insight into movement building, into what was at time serendipity and much as planning, but more importantly of the significance of profile and good contacts, where he discusses the support provided by some of the highest profile leaders of the civil rights movement for the OPHR. The book works well on both these fronts.

It also is well-contextualised with an excellent reflective new introduction and powerful afterword linking the struggle of the 1960s and 1970s to the continuing struggles of African-Americans for justice. Edwards is a sharp writer and brings considerable insight derived from both decades of active involvement and a sharp political mind: the bridges he builds between the events around the OPHR and struggles such as BLM are potent and disturbing.

The publishers deserve credit, so kudos to Illinois University Press for republishing this fine, long out of print book and to Harry Edwards for both leaving the original text as it was (errors and all – about which he open and honest) and for putting in the time to reflect on its historical significance and highlight its contemporary significance. It comes highly recommended.

[Andre Jones Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Revolt is a must read for anyone who feels as though there is or should be a cut off between sports and politics. In it, H.E. outlines the ways in which blacks have been socialized in the US through sports following WWII, and how that process albeit beneficial to the white ruling classes was done begrudgingly. Also, Edwards chronicles his own forays into activism in sports through sponsoring a protest against the 1968 Olympics. Edwards ain't wrong when he writes that it's time for the black athlete to leave "the facade of locker room equality and justice to take his long vacant place as a primary participant in the black revolution" (7), but he ain't all right either. Or rather he's writing about a matter from a different time than our current one, making a lot of his points outmoded and would-be detrimental if exercised today, probably. Where I think he's right is in charging athletes and especially black athletes with class consciousness and political dexterity: with their platforms, these players have power beyond bench press and dead lift records. More meaningful than record breaking pass completions in a single season and points scored per game stats. They have the ability to literally change the game for non athletic blacks who are heavily influenced by their social and political contributions.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting inside account of the creation of the 1968 Olympic boycott committee. Gives a good overview of history of athletics and the color line, integration, exploitation, mistreatment, etc. gives a good look at how and why a lot of protests ended up focusing on BYU during the time. For example, did you know that out of the 14 Wyoming black football players who were kicked off their team for telling their coach they wanted to wear black armbands during the BYU football game....one of them himself WAS Mormon? I was shocked that in response NCAA passed regulations allowing any coach to unilaterally, immediately revoke financial aid/scholarships for anything they decided was "disobedience"? Coaches could kick kids off for wearing an ethnic hairstyle. In the 1970s. I loved the inside look of how the 1968 boycott evolved into the two men giving the black power salute, and promptly being kicked if the Olympic team, out of Olympic village, and were destroyed in the press. They were hated and received death threats. No we look back and pretend it was a fond, safe expression of civil rights. Sigh.

[Olimpicba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kako se kladiti na fudbal

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Početnici se uglavnom klade na popularne fudbalske događaje (npr. Premijer ligu) za koje možete pronaći mnogo korisnih informacija u raznim izvorima. Mnogi od njih ostvaruju veliki profit tako što shvate kako se pravilno kladiti na fudbal.

Savjeti za početnike

Prvo što možemo savjetovati igraču početniku je da pažljivo prouči statistiku. Naravno, desetogodišnja statistika ne pomaže mnogo, ali nedavni rezultati tima i nedavni lični sastanci dovoljno govore. Obavezno provjerite vijesti o trenutnoj situaciji u timovima. Obratite pažnju na pozicije glavnog trenera (koliko dugo je na ovoj poziciji, da li je došlo do ostavke i sl.) i ulogu u timu igrača koji propuštaju sljedeću utakmicu zbog suspenzije ili zdravstvenih problema. Što više informacija prikupite o utakmici, veća je vjerovatnoća da ćete ispravno predvidjeti njen ishod.

Profesionalni kladionici (pojedinci) koji tačno znaju kako se pravilno kladiti na fudbal znat će gotovo sve o utakmici koja ih zanima, pa sve do sudijske ekipe, stanja travnjaka i mogućih vremenskih uslova. Naravno, poznavanje takvih informacija vam neće pomoći da 100% shvatite kako se pravilno kladiti na fudbal, ali će igraču (pojedincu) biti od velike pomoći.

Kada završite sa prikupljanjem informacija, detaljno ih analizirajte i donesite konačnu odluku o svojoj opkladi.

Međutim, analitički dio posla se tu ne završava, jer sada morate odlučiti na koju od mnogih online ureda (ili na jednu od točaka za prihvatanje offline plaćanja) da se kladite. Najbolje je da se odlučite za jednu od najpouzdanijih kancelarija nakon što pročitate recenzije koje već imaju dobru reputaciju i pozitivne povratne informacije od kupaca. Osim toga, među ovim kladionicama treba da nađete onu koja vam daje najveću kvotu za događaj koji vas zanima, jer nema smisla gubiti novac ni iz čega, a svaki igrač koji se može kladiti na fudbal pažljivo prati ovaj trenutak . .

Veoma je važno da se ne predomislite u poslednjem trenutku pre klađenja zbog mišljenja prijatelja ili drugih igrača koji se ne slažu sa vašim opcijama klađenja i koji tvrde da znaju kako da se pravilno klade na fudbal. . Uvijek se držite svog mišljenja, a ako je potkrijepljeno statistikom, visok postotak uspješnih opklada će biti zagarantovan.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author is a highly educated man and it is constantly evidenced in his writing. this makes the book difficult to read at first, as there is a level of complexity to what he is discussing that is not translated for the layperson. the foreword in particular, a reflection by the author 50 years later, is a pretty rough introduction because of its high expectations on your own understanding.

once i got past the foreword i was very engaged but i think this will only appeal to those who are interested in a historical perspective of the struggles of black athletes, as opposed to the current struggle. still, High Flying Bird (2019) convinced me to read this and it and the appendices are a fascinating insight into the time period.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me captivated from start to finish! I think it should be required reading for all American citizens. How are we in the 21st century when I didn't learn about the black athlete movement against injustice until college? High school history curriculums glaze over the Civil Rights movement, with a few thrown-in references to Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Forget Malcolm X or Harry Edwards. Both of my "US History" classes consisted of scrutinously learning about the founding of America in the 1700s and the presidents up until the early 70s. Next to nothing about the struggles of Native Americans or black or Hispanic or Asian Americans.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an important book. It's a strange experience to read Edwards' description of the lead up to the protests at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City over injustices toward black people in America, and see the same kinds of responses from White America to their actions that we saw more recently with Colin Kaepernick. When people such as then Governor (of CA) Ronald Reagan talk more about the form of protest than the object of the protest, we begin to see how history repeats itself. Tragic, really.

[Nadia Jonesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, University of Illinois Press and the author Harry Edwards. This was a very heavy read but very informative about how Black Athletes were treated in sports. The fight that they went through , they ways they tried to handle it as well how things were handled when they reacted out. It was hard. But it was a good read.

Thank you!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that takes dedication to read, but is worth it. Very informative. I'm finding lately that I know too little about the history of black people in this country, and have been making an effort to seek out books such as this to educate myself.

[Milan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignantly written and relevant still do this day. The few pages that touched on the American flag, black oppression and the role of the athlete were eerily similar to the modern day protests across athletics, started by Colin Kaepernick.

Buying this book to read in the future.

[Stefanie Sonnleitner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very important book but hard to read. A chronology of events more than a presentation of ideas (which i was looking for).

[Genese Makouangou]

Thanks to the movie "High Flying Bird" have I read this book. It is the blue-print.

[Charlie Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edwards provides a wonderful afterword to a historic and momentous occasion in U.S. sports and Black Power

[Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

[Monique AJ Smith]

This is a treasure and the foundation for Race in Sports Studies.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read about african american sports athletes and their experiences. Starting in the 1970, Black Athletes have been criticized for taking social injustices and bringing it to the forefront. A very interesting and informative read.

[Mainely Stories · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author demonstrates that the black athlete is empowered to speak about the same issues that affect all disenfranchised minority populations. There is more hope within this group that their voice will have meaning and be heard from the times of Mohammad Ali and Kareem and the same hope is seen in athletes of today. This book was initially published 50 years ago and I found this a much more clinical treatment than I had hoped.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heavy going book to read but well worth the effort as it was very informative and I didn't realise until the end that this was first published in 1970.

[John Devlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A well done polemic about what it is to be black in the world of sports.

[Karthik Sirangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening. Inspiring. One of the best books to understand black people struggle in the country that must not be named.