Vintage black and white poster of the moment that rocked the world in 1968, remaining one of the most overtly political statements in the history of the modern Olympics: Tommie Smith (gold medallist) and John Carlos (bronze) at the Mexico City Olympics, standing with raised black gloved fists during the playing of the American national anthem at the medal ceremony for the 200-metre event. Their salute was a silent protest against racial discrimination and violence against Black people in the US. The athletes wore beads and a scarf to protest lynchings and removed their shoes as they walked to the podium, to protest poverty.
Peter Norman, the Australian athlete and silver medallist, stands on the podium wearing a badge in solidarity, endorsing the Olympic Project for Human Rights.
Their show of unity and defiance continues to reverberate over 50 years later yet all three suffered repercussions for their actions. The International Olympic Association took the medals back from Smith and Carlos; these were later restored to them. Norman returned home to Australia as a pariah, suffering unofficial sanction and was ridiculed as 'the forgotten man' of the Black Power salute. He was not selected for the 1972 Munich Olympics and never ran in an Olympics again. Norman was not welcomed or included at the 2000 Sydney Olympics unless he renounced his actions, which he never did.
Thirty-eight years after the three first made history, both Smith and Carlos gave eulogies and were pallbearers at Norman's funeral. John Carlos stated that 'If we were getting beat up, Peter was facing an entire country and suffering alone.' The US Track and Field Federation declared October 9, the day of his funeral, as Peter Norman Day.
Sold
