“The story behind this iconic Olympic protest” — Vox, 2020, 9:09 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ACXn-BDog8
Contributed by Mary Scafidi, Cabrini University
This video shows us how sports can intersect with social movements with a case study of race in the 1968 Olympics and the resulting iconic protest images. It also profiles the work of sociologist, educator, and former star athlete Dr. Harry Edwards. The video describes the historical context of a proposed boycott of the 1968 Olympics and how activists used any means possible to get society to pay attention to institutionalized racism. The boycott was controversial because participating in sports could be a powerful way to draw attention to the problem. Track stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos defied the boycott, won Olympic medals, and used their positions on the winner’s podium to protest. The video describes the many other symbolic items the athletes utilized in addition to the iconic raised fists. White people and the Olympic committee reacted negatively, and the athletes were stripped of their medals. Even today, Colin Kaepernick and many other black athletes are still protesting the issues that Smith and Carlos were fighting in 1968.
From the video’s description: The image of sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City is an enduring image of silent protest. But the key to understanding it goes beyond the black-gloved fists. All three medal winners, including silver medalist Peter Norman of Australia, wore buttons that read “Olympic Project for Human Rights.” The Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) was a coalition of prominent athletes formed in 1967 that threatened to boycott participating in the upcoming Olympic games, in order to draw attention to systemic racism in the United States. The group, led by Professor Harry Edwards, ultimately voted to compete in the games and hold their demonstrations there, which led to the now-iconic display on the medal stand following the men’s 200-meter final. This act got Smith and Carlos kicked off the team, but left a lasting legacy on making political statements through sport.