Fostering Dr. Harry Edwards' Legacy

Abstract

The role of the Black athlete within the Black community has taken a distinct change of direction over the past few decades. From the highlighted presence of Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, and Jackie Robinson, the Black athlete historically was an integral part of advancing the community, addressing political agendas, learning and outreach. Black athletes had a visible presence in, and were considered leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. This festschrift of Dr. Harry Edwards' scholarly classics will explore the conflicts of Black athletes that grow up in predominately Black communities and are recruited from them to play at predominately white institutions. A review of three of his major works will be analyzed and revisited. The reallocation of their resources critical to the perseverance of Black communities will be explored. Future implications and recommendations will be offered to offset the stated crisis.