The 1968 Olympics

Question 1

What decision did Black athletes make regarding the Olympics?

Answer 1

• Compete rather than boycott
• Winning medals would give them attention needed to stage a protest with global media coverage

Question 2

Which athletes the most determined to use the Olympics as a platform for protest? Who were they influenced by?

Answer 2

• Tommie Smith and John Carlos
• Influenced by Malcom X and sociology professor

Question 3

What was Tommie Smith and John Carlos involved in?

Answer 3

• 200m medal ceremony
• 1st and 3rd

Question 4

What symbols protested racial inequality?

Answer 4

• right fist = black power
• left fist = black unity
• black scarf = black pride
• beaded necklace = lynching
• unzipped shirt = black workers
• no shocks no shoes = black poverty

Question 5

How did the public and officials react to Smith and Carlos’s protest?

Answer 5

• Booed by fellow Americans
• IOC President criticised the protest, called it disgraceful

Question 6

What consequences did Tommie Smith and John Carlos face after the protest?

Answer 6

• Banned from competing for the USA
• Smith was forced to leave the USA

Question 7

Where were Tommie Smith and John Carlos honoured as heroes?

Answer 7

• San Jose University
• Large statues of them were built

Question 8

What impact did the protest have globally and in the long term?

Answer 8

• Drew worldwide attention to Black struggles
• Contributed to changing attitudes