Professor Brandon Wallace has spent his life researching the connection between two things he loves: sports and social movements. On the evening of July 8th, Wallace stood in front of a sea of high school students who are taking a journalism course at Indiana University and spoke to them about his life‘s work through teaching, activism, youth camps, and most recently writing a book. His mission was to encourage the students to involve themselves in current issues, and to show them how these issues are relevant in everyday things like sports. 

         Wallace began his speech by talking about his childhood in the south side of Chicago. He told the crowd about how as a teenager, he began to notice racial stereotypes in the sports that he played, and as he got older, he noticed similar stereotypes in professional sports. In college and graduate school, he studied sports media but also began to develop an interest in sociology. 

         “I wanted to put myself in a position where I could make the world a better place,” said the professor.

          Now, after finishing his first year teaching at Indiana University, Wallace told the students about his book: “Beyond a Kneel: How Social Movements Harness the Power of Sport,” which highlights the connection between sports and social issues, and how sports can transform the world into a better place. “When we think about the power of sport, we also have to consider the problems of sport,” said Wallace. 

         He spoke about how famous athletes and sports teams can use their platforms to raise awareness for social issues, using the example of Colin Kaepernick, a NFL football player who kneeled during the National Anthem to stand up for black rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Wallace played the high schoolers a video of Know Your Rights Camp, the organization that Kaepernick started, that educates black kids about their rights and empowers them. 

         Wallace also pointed out in his speech that we as spectators consider sports to be neutral and not “political,” but political messages are still subtly communicated through sports and sports entertainment. 

         “These messages are almost more powerful because we don‘t recognize them as being political,” Wallace said. 

         Wallace‘s final message to the students was that they should stay active and informed about social issues in our society. He hopes to publish his book in 2026.