Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Summer 1968

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http://www.infoplease.com/spot/summer-olympics-mexico-city.html World & News Summer Olympics 2008 > Memorable Olympics Moments United States History & Gov't Biography Sports Arts & Ent. Civil Disobedience Business Society & Culture Black medallists raise fists for Civil Rights Movement Health & Science by John Gettings Homework Center Fact Monster It was the most popular medal ceremony K i d' s r ef ere nce, g a me s, quizz es of all time. The photographs of two black American sprinters standing on the Daily Almanac medal podium with heads bowed and This Day in History fists raised at the Mexico City Games in Today's Birthday Word of the Day 1968 not only represent one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history Tag Cloud Editor's Favorites but a milestone in America's civil rights carlos city fist Women's History Month movement. gloves history john Kosovo Country Profile smith medalists School Shootings The two men were Tommie Smith and Timeline Tommie Smith (center) and John Carlos mexican raise fists for Black Power in 1968. St. Patrick's Day John Carlos. Teammates at San Jose (Source: AP) tommie Leap Year State University, Smith and Carlos were Daylight Saving Time stirred by the suggestion of a young What's this? Easter Related Links sociologist friend Harry Edwards, who Vernal Equinox Infoplease Tools asked them and all the other black Olympics Overview 2008 Black History Month Calculator Preview: Track & Field Economics 101 American athletes to join together and Spelling Checker World's Ten Most boycott the games. The protest, Edwards Black History Place Finder Corrupt Leaders hoped, would bring attention to the fact Distance Calculator Academy Awards Periodic Table American Idol that America's civil rights movement had Conversion Tool Perpetual Calendar Campaign 2008 not gone far enough to eliminate the Year by Year 2008 Current Events injustices black Americans were facing. 1968 History 2008 Deaths The World Changed Edwards' group, the Olympic Project for Forever in 1968, Find Out Most Intelligent U.S. Cities Career Center Human Rights (OPHR), gained support Why at History.com®. Cleanest U.S. Cities from several world-class athletes and www.history.com Job Search Best Culture in U.S. Cities Post Your Resume Holidays: Religious and civil rights leaders but the all-out boycott Continuing Ed. Secular, 2008 never materialized. 2008 Calendar Arizona Criminal Arrest? College Center 2007 Year in Review Still impassioned by Edwards' words, 480-778-1500 - 24/7 Free Scholarship Search Case Eval Top Arizona Smith and Carlos secretly planned a Colleges & Criminal Lawyers Search: Infoplease non-violent protest in the manner of Universities www.MaasenLaw.com/Criminal-Atty College Resources Martin Luther King, Jr. In the 200-meter race, Smith won the gold medal and Info search tips Carlos the bronze. As the American flag rose and the Star-Spangled Search: Biographies Banner played, the two closed their eyes, bowed their heads, and began their protest. Bio search tips Smith later told the media that he raised his right, black-glove-covered fist in the air to represent black power in America while Carlos' left, black-covered fist represented unity in black America. Together they formed an arch of unity and power. The black scarf around Smith's neck SPONSORED LINKS stood for black pride and their black socks (and no shoes) represented black poverty in racist America.

While the protest seems relatively tame by today's standards, the actions of Smith and Carlos were met with such outrage that they were suspended from their national team and banned from the Olympic Village, the athletes' home during the games.

A lot of people thought that political statements had no place in the supposedly apolitical Olympic Games. Those that opposed the protest cried out that the actions were militant and disgraced Americans. Supporters, on the other hand, were moved by the duo's actions and praised them for their bravery. The protest had lingering effects for both men, the most serious of which were death threats against them and their

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Smith and Carlos, who both now coach high school track teams, were honored in 1998 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their protest.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/summer-olympics-mexico-city.html An interesting side note to the protest was that the 200m silver medallist in 1968, Peter Norman of Australia (who is white), participated in the protest that evening by wearing a OPHR badge.