Tommie Smith and John Carlos' Black Power Salute

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Tommie Smith and John Carlos' Black Power salute during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics was a pivotal moment in history. On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony for the 200-meter dash, Smith and Carlos stood on the podium, with Smith having won gold and Carlos bronze. As the U.S. national anthem played, they each raised a black-gloved fist in a gesture of solidarity and protest against racial inequality and injustice in the United States. This act was part of a broader movement, supported by the Olympic Project for Human Rights, which aimed to highlight issues like racism and poverty faced by African Americans. The salute was a powerful statement that resonated globally, drawing both support and criticism. Australian silver medalist Peter Norman joined them in solidarity by wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge. The gesture led to Smith and Carlos being expelled from the Olympic Village and facing backlash in the U.S., including death threats. Despite this, their actions remain a landmark moment in the history of social activism and the Olympics, symbolizing resistance against systemic racism and advocating for human rights. Smith and Carlos continued their careers in sports and became icons of the civil rights movement.