On October 16, 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics, the world witnessed a silent yet powerful protest that transcended sports and became a defining moment in the fight for civil rights. American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, during the medal ceremony for the 200-meter race, raised their fists in a Black Power salute, a gesture that would resonate for decades and forever link their names to athletic activism and the struggle for racial equality. This act, captured in indelible images and BBC archive footage, came at a significant personal and professional cost for both men, but solidified their place in history.
Tommie Smith, the gold medalist, and John Carlos, the bronze medalist, used the global stage of the Olympics to highlight the systemic racism and inequality faced by Black people in the United States. Their silent demonstration was meticulously planned and rich with symbolism. Smith wore black socks without shoes to represent Black poverty, and a black scarf symbolizing Black pride. Carlos wore beads in memory of the lynchings of African Americans. Smith’s right fist represented Black power, while Carlos’s left fist symbolized Black unity. Together, Tommie Smith and John Carlos delivered a visual message that reverberated far beyond the stadium, shaking the world and challenging the status quo.
The repercussions for Tommie Smith and John Carlos were swift and severe. Within hours, the International Olympic Committee condemned their protest. Just two days later, the US Olympic team suspended them and sent them home from Mexico City. The backlash was intense and long-lasting. Both athletes faced vilification in the media and were ostracized by the American sporting establishment. They endured abuse and death threats, and Smith attributed the breakdown of his marriage to the immense pressure and fallout from the protest. Despite setting a world record in the 200m, Tommie Smith found himself banned from national and international competitions, effectively ending his Olympic career prematurely.
Born into poverty in Texas, Tommie Smith experienced firsthand the harsh realities of segregation in the American South. His athletic talent was evident from a young age, and he excelled as a sprinter at San Jose State University. By 1968, he was a leading contender for Olympic gold, but the socio-political climate of the time weighed heavily on him and many other Black athletes. 1968 was a year of profound upheaval in the US. The Vietnam War raged, the anti-war movement gained momentum, and the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak. The assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April and Robert Kennedy just months later underscored the deep divisions and unrest within American society. Against this backdrop, Tommie Smith and John Carlos felt compelled to use their platform to speak out against injustice.
In a BBC archive interview from 1972, Tommie Smith reflected on the unique power of sport for Black athletes: “The black athlete… has grown to know that the body could be a springboard to success. I think he works doubly hard at that as he would at anything else. Because in athletics, especially track and field, nobody can say you are no good. The only person who can say that is that clock.” However, even athletic achievement could not shield Smith and Carlos from the consequences of their political stance. Instead of preparing for the 1972 Munich Olympics, Tommie Smith, still one of the fastest men alive, was coaching schoolchildren in England to make ends meet.
Despite the personal and professional hardships, Tommie Smith and John Carlos remained steadfast in their convictions. They understood the historical significance of their protest and its impact on raising awareness about racial inequality. Smith earned a master’s degree in sociology in 1974 and dedicated his career to teaching and coaching, becoming a powerful voice for racial equality in sports and beyond. Carlos also continued to advocate for social justice and worked with young people.
Decades later, the legacy of Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s protest has been re-evaluated and celebrated. In 2008, they received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, recognizing their courageous stand. President Barack Obama acknowledged their impact, stating, “Their powerful silent protest in the 1968 Games was controversial, but it woke folks up and created greater opportunity for those that followed.” In a 2012 BBC Newsnight interview, Tommie Smith expressed no regrets, stating, “The only regret was that it had to be done.” The protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics remains a powerful symbol of athlete activism and the enduring fight for civil rights, forever etched in the annals of history and sports.
