The Black Power Salute: Mexico City 1968

What happened

At the medal ceremony for the 200-meter race at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, the African American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos each raised a black-gloved fist and bowed their heads during the U.S. national anthem, a silent protest for human rights. They were expelled from the Games and faced years of hostility and death threats at home.

Why it matters

The salute became one of the most iconic images in the history of sport and protest — a moment when the Olympic podium became a stage for the civil-rights struggle, and a reminder of the price athletes have paid for taking a stand.

Sources

• Library of Congress. Victory. Stand! Meet Tommie Smith, Human Rights Activist at the 1968 Olympics · Primary source