1968: Olympic "Black Power" Salute...

[ChefChiTown]

I was born in 1981, so this happened before I was even alive. I have never heard this story until now, when I saw it on SportsCenter.

On the morning of October 16, 1968,[2] American athlete Smith won the 200 metre race in a then-world-record time of 19.83 seconds, with Australia's Peter Norman second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and American Carlos in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. After the race was completed, the three went to collect their medals at the podium. The two American athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks, to represent black poverty.[3] Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride.[3] Carlos had his tracksuit top unzipped to show solidarity with all blue collar workers in America. Furthermore, Carlos wore beads which he described "were for those individuals that were lynched, or ****** that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage."[4] All three athletes wore Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badges, after Norman expressed sympathy with their ideals. Sociologist Harry Edwards, the founder of the OPHR, had urged black athletes to boycott the games; reportedly, the actions of Smith and Carlos on October 16, 1968[2] were inspired by Edwards' arguments.[5]

Both Americans intended on bringing black gloves to the event, but Carlos forgot his, leaving them in the Olympic Village. It was the Australian, Peter Norman, who suggested Carlos wear Smith's left-handed glove, this being the reason behind him raising his left hand, as opposed to his right, differing from the traditional Black Power salute.[citation needed] When "The Star-Spangled Banner" played, Smith and Carlos delivered the salute with heads bowed, a gesture which became front page news around the world. As they left the podium they were booed by the crowd.[6] Smith later said "If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight."[3]

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I'm all for being proud of yourself and "where you come from", in respect to your heritage and ******, but...don't flaunt it. I know that a lot of people have a high amount of respect for these two guys, doing what they did, but I don't find it respectful at all.

They were at the Olympics representing the United States of America, NOT black people. They stood on the Olympic Medal podium and raised a "Black Power" fist, claiming that it stood for something other than Black Power. No, that's not how it works.

If I hung a swastika flag outside of my bedroom window, I can't claim that it stands for something else other than showing support for a **** regime and expect people to believe me. That's ridiculous.

I know that saying this will make some view me as being racist and that's fine. Think whatever you want to think about me. But, the fact is, if that was two white guys flashing some sort of "white power" symbol, it would be viewed as one of the most blatantly racist things to ever happen. But, since it was two black guys, it's "heroic" somehow? Nah...that's not how it works.

:2 cents: