Harry Edwards, Ph.D., Oral History Interview: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An oral history interview and conversation with sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards. It consists of three versions of a digital video recording, two camera card files (2025.12.8.1.1 and 2025.12.8.1.2, .mxf files) and one edited file (2025.12.8.1.3, .mov file).

Dr. Harry Edwards was interviewed by Loyola Marymount University student Natalie Riddick on November 13, 2023, as part of the Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project. The interview took place at San Jose State University in San Jose, California. At the time of the interview, Dr. Edwards was 80 years old.

This oral history interview has two distinct sections: an “interview” section (part 1) and a “conversation” section (part 2, 01:00:41). Part 1 is led by Natalie Riddick and covers Dr. Edwards early life in East St. Louis, including the legacy of the 1917 riots, and his experiences at Fresno Community College, San Jose State University, and Cornell University. Dr. Edwards also discusses his time as a professor of sociology of sport and how his own educational experiences informed how he engaged with his students. Part 2 features a discussion between Dr. Edwards and scholar activists Natalie Riddick and Kailyn Bailey. In this segment, Dr. Edwards discusses notable athlete activists, the price of activism, the dangers of burnout, and significant relationships within his community that have influenced his life and activism. Part 2 also features a discussion between Dr. Edwards, Natalie Riddick, and Dr. Damion Thomas, Sports Curator at NMAAHC. In this segment, Dr. Edwards discusses 157 years of athlete activism, contemporary political events impacting athletes, the legacy of Colin Kaepernick, and finally, why people should spend time studying his mistakes, rather than solely focusing on his contributions.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: November 13, 2023
• Created by: National Museum of African American History and Culture, American, founded 2003
• Recorded by: Trudy Hutcherson, American
• Recorded by: Candace Dane Chambers, American
• Interviewed by: Natalie Riddick
• Interviewed by: Kailyn L. Bailey
• Interviewed by: Damion L. Thomas, American
• Interview of: Harry Edwards, American, born 1942
• Subject of: Emmett Till, American, 1941 - 1955
• Type: video recordings
• Type: oral histories
• Type: digital media - born digital
• Medium: digital
• Dimensions: Duration (2025.12.8.1.3, edited): 2 hr., 36 min., 15 sec.
• Dimensions: File size: 249 GB
• Place filmed: San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Fresno, Fresno County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico, Latin America, North and Central America
• Place captured: Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, United States, North and Central America
• Place captured: Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Athletes
• Topic: Civil Rights
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Education
• Topic: Football
• Topic: Gender
• Object number: 2025.12.8.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.