44Summer OlympicsTaking A Stand
- Date
10/16/1968
- Location
Olympic Stadium | Mexico City, Mexico
- Moment
After winning gold and silver (respectively) in the men's 200 meter, U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos used the podium to make a statement about "human rights." Each wore a black glove and raised a fist in the air during the medal ceremony, a gesture many interpreted as a Black Power salute. Smith later said it was a sign of solidarity with all those fighting for greater equality.
- Impact
The salute was one of the most overt political statements in the history of the Olympics, as two of the world's best athletes displayed the gesture on a global stage. Both athletes were later expelled from the Olympic Games after the gestures were labeled a form of protest.
