12 Black Power Salute 1968 Olympic Games Notecards

Peter Norman

Australian track athlete best known for winning the silver medal in the 200 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He is also known for his support of John Carlos and Tommie Smith when they made their famous gesture at the 1968 Olympics medal ceremony. Norman wore a badge on the podium in support of the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR).

Harry Edwards

Founder of OPHR; African american sociologist who studied sports & African American athletes, said best opportunity to go fom one social class to the next is through education

Tommie Smith

Gold medalist expelled from the 1968 Olympics for having on a black scarf (for Black pride), wearing black socks (without shoes, Black poverty), wearing a beaded necklace as a memento to those killed in racial hate, (friend) unzipped jacket as a blue collar worker, one (John Carlos) forgot gloves, so they split one pair of gloves to raise their hands in victory.

Black Power

Ideology used to reflect solidarity and racial consciousness, used by Malcolm X. It meant that equality could not be given, but had to be seized by a powerful, organized Black community.

I.O.C.

International Olympic Committee; the supreme authority of the Olympic movement. organizes the modern Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games, held in summer and winter, every four years.

O.P.H.R.

Olympic Project for Human Rights. Created in 1967 as a political and social organization to call attention to domestic racism using the 1968 Olympic Games as a platform. Carlos and Smith were a part of this organization.

Avery Brundage

Strongly believed in the maintenance of strict amateur rules; held idealistic view about separation of sports and politics. 5th president of the IOC (1952-72). Used olympic movement to endorse his political beleifs. Strict amateur enforcer. Didnt support womens sport. Exiled Tommie Smith and John Carlos from the games.

1968 Mexico City Olympic Games

Summer Olympic games where, two African-Americans, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, won 1st and 3rd in the 200m dash; during the medal ceremony, while the National Anthem was played, they both raised one hand in a Black Power salute; both were sent home.

South Africa's Contribution

The IOC, under the direction of Brundage, was also slow to take action against South Africa for its apartheid policies, and he ignored calls for the country to be banned from the 1960 Olympics following the Sharpsville massacre. After not participating in 1964, South Africa was invited by Brundage to participate in the 1968 Olympics until he was forced to rescind the invitation under increasing threats of a boycott and definitive evidence of racial discrimination. Led to exile of Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

San Jose State University

Tommie Smith and John Carlos were both track and field stars at San Jose State in the 1960s. In 1967 during their time there, a professor in the department of Sociology, Harry Edwards, founded the Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR). In 2005, San José State University unveiled a 20-foot-tall statue honoring the two men.

John Carlos

U.S. sprinter who won the bronze medal in the Mexico City Olympics and gave a Black Power salute while they played the U.S. national anthem in honor of him. Wore beaded necklace and unzipped jacket.

Unzipped Jacket

representing "solidarity with all blue collar workers" - John Carlos

Black Gloves

representing African-American awareness

Beaded Necklace

representing African-American mistreatment "were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed and that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage." - John Carlos

Black Socks

representing African-American poverty

Black Scarf

representing African-American pride