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!

A very interesting read...that shows us that pro athletes standing up for social injustice in their era no matter what it costs them; is not a new concept. This book shows that Colin Kapernick has joined a long and distinguished list of "freedom fighters".

Great topic that is still relevant today, but it is a book that is not an easy read. I persevered in order to finish it,and while I didn't particularly enjoy it, it is clear the author wrote this with passion and is very knowledgeable. I didn't want to write a negative review on such a book, Thank you for providing a review copy.

This is a very thorough study that has become increasingly relevant today.

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.

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.

The Revolt of the Black Athlete by Harry Edwards

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.

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.

A very informative book describing how black athletes were treated (effectively) like second class citizens and what it took for them to be treated more humanly. Somewhat heavy reading at times but very much worth it.

Intriguing to say the least.  It is packed full of information and can be very heavy of a read at times - but it is worth it. 
It holds its revolution to a standpoint with it been a previous release of the book in the 1960s.  So you see the mistreatment of the "black" student athlete and how it has changed to present day.
Like today, you see how the people in the mainstream try to dismiss the issues and conclusion with the appendixes showing how black athletes dealt with the issues. Especially with Tommy Smith and John Carlos showing their voice is terrific.
Wish it would of included a bit more on Peter Norman and how culture is different around the world but that is just me nitpicking.  Peter Norman was the Australian sprinter who stood on the podium with Smith and Carlos. He asked for a badge to show his support for their efforts and suggested they have one glove each in their salute.
He returned to Australia a martyr for showing support and was issued a parliamentary apology in 2012 for his treatment (he died in 2006).
 
A good historical read which give context to a fight that continues to this day.  It is a little too heavy for me to give it 5 stars, but I give it 4/5 for its purpose.  It is a must for anyone who has any interest in the subject - I decided to read this after watching Jesse Owens film "Race", it was worth the read..