1968 Olympics Black Power salute

During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, made a powerful statement. They each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". Smith won the gold medal and Carlos the bronze in the 200-meter running event at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Along with Australian silver medalist Peter Norman, they also wore human-rights badges on their jackets. This moment became one of the most political statements in the history of the modern Olympics. Later, Smith explained that their gesture was about human rights, not just about a political movement.

Protest

Main article: Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres

On October 16, 1968, Tommie Smith from the United States won the 200-meter race at the Olympics. Peter Norman from Australia came in second, and John Carlos from the United States took third place. During their medal ceremony, Smith and Carlos showed a special gesture of solidarity. They raised their fists in the air while wearing black gloves, and they stood shoeless to show support for those facing hard times. All three athletes wore badges to show their support for human rights. Their powerful gesture was seen by people all around the world.

International Olympic Committee response

The leader of the International Olympic Committee, Avery Brundage, thought the athletes' actions were a political statement that did not belong at the Olympics. He wanted the two athletes removed from the Games, and when the U.S. team did not agree, he threatened to remove the whole U.S. track team. Because of this, the two athletes were not allowed to continue in the Olympics. However, they were not forced to give back their medals.

Brundage had earlier been in charge during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he did not object to certain salutes made by Nazi leaders. He believed those salutes were acceptable because they were part of a nation's traditions, but the athletes' actions were not tied to a nation and so were not allowed.

Aftermath

After their powerful gesture, Tommie Smith and John Carlos faced a lot of criticism and were treated unfairly by many in the US. Some people said very hurtful things about them, and they even received dangerous threats.

Smith continued his career in sports and later became a teacher and speaker. Carlos also kept competing in running but faced some difficulties, including a serious injury that stopped him from playing football professionally.

Both men were honored later for their brave stand. In 2008, they received a special award for courage. Years after, in 2012, the Australian government apologized for how they treated Peter Norman, who had supported Smith and Carlos during their protest.

Documentary films

The 2008 Sydney Film Festival showed a film called Salute. It was made by Matt Norman, who is related to Peter Norman.

On July 9, 2008, BBC Four aired another film named Black Power Salute. It was made by Geoff Small and talked about the same event. Small wrote about how athletes from Britain at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing were asked to agree not to make political statements, but they refused.

Carlos and Smith talk about their experience in the 1999 film Fists Of Freedom.

Play (theatre)

A play called Mexico 68 : trois hommes, un destin was written by journalist Alain Coltier and directed by Gilles Champion. It began performances in Lyon and nearby areas starting in June 2025. The play is published by ABS éditions in 2009.

Tributes

In 2011, Akaash Maharaj, a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee and head of Canada's Olympic equestrian team, spoke about how Tommie Smith, Peter Norman, and John Carlos showed great courage during their protest at the 1968 Olympics. Their actions inspired many athletes to stand up for what is right.

In 2005, San Jose State University honored Smith and Carlos with a tall statue called Victory Salute. The statue shows the two athletes with their fists raised, just like during the Olympics. Visitors can stand on the monument to feel what Norman felt when he stood with them. The statue includes details like their track suits and shoes.

A large mural in West Oakland, California, once showed Smith and Carlos, but it was removed when the building was torn down. In Sydney, Australia, a mural was painted to remember the protest and is now protected as important history. In Melbourne, a statue of Peter Norman was unveiled in 2019 at Lakeside Stadium, celebrating his support for the protest.

The protest has also inspired many songs and music videos over the years, with artists paying tribute through their work.

Works

Here are some books and artworks about the event:

• October 1968: Three Men in Mexico by Alain (Philippe) Coltier, with a foreword by Colin Tatz, Red Kelpies Project (2012) ISBN 9780987294005
• The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World, by John Carlos and Dave Zirin, Haymarket Books (2011) ISBN 978-1-60846-127-1
• Three Proud People (2000) [Mural]. 39 Pine Street Newtown NSW Australia.