1968 Olympics Black Power Salute
Tommie Smith & John Carlos During the 1968 Summer Olympic Games in Mexico City, a powerful moment unfolded that would become one of the most recognized images in modern sports history. Two American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, stood on the medal podium after the men’s 200‑meter race and raised their gloved fists during the national anthem. This quiet but bold action became known as the Black Power Salute. It was not a moment of anger or disruption, but a carefully planned statement meant to draw attention to the unequal treatment faced by Black Americans and others around the world. By Angelo Cozzi (Mondadori Publishers) - This image has been extracted from another file, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40937149 Tommie Smith won the gold medal, setting a world record, while John Carlos earned the bronze. Both men were elite athletes who had trained for years to reach the Olympic stage. They understood the importance of the moment and the glo...