Black Power Protests at the Mexico Olympics 1968 Flashcards
What was the black power salute at the games seen as?
Not a step forward for the games, as it had challenged the Olympic idea that you did not use the Olympics for political protest.
How did many black and white Americans feel?
Embarrassed by the worldwide media’s reaction to the protest.
When was the race that the protesters competed in?
October 16th 1968 - 200m.
Who won?
Tommie Smith (USA).
Who came second?
Peter Norman (AUS).
Who came third?
John Carlos (USA).
How did the two Americans protest?
They went onto the podium shoeless, wearing black socks to represent poverty.
Why was this outrageous?
Medal ceremony was to be front page news across the world.
What did they wear?
Smith wore a black scarf to represent black and Carlos wore beads to represent the blacks who had been lynched, killed and even those who had died on the middle passage from Africa to America as part of the slave trade.
What did the Australian do?
His idea that the two athletes shared the gloves. Created an arc of power. He wore an OPHR badge in support of the athletes.
What was the response?
They were booed when leaving the podium. Smith and Carlos were suspended and banned from the Olympic village. Norman was reprimanded by the Australian Olympic authorities and not chosen for the 1972 games.
What happened after the games?
Norman and Smith were ignored by the US sporting establishment and were subject to abuse as well as their families receiving death threats.
