Forty years ago Tommie Smith and John Carlos, teammates on the U.S. Olympic team, won gold and bronze medals in the 200 meter dash at the Games in Mexico City. Here is how Time magazine described the scene at the time:
“‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’ is the motto of the Olympic Games. ‘Angrier, nastier, uglier’ better describes the scene in Mexico City last week. There, in the same stadium from which 6,200 pigeons swooped skyward to signify the opening of the ‘Peace Olympics,’ Sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, two disaffected black athletes from the U.S. put on a public display of petulance that sparked one of the most unpleasant controversies in Olympic history and turned the high drama of the games into theater of the absurd.
“Smith had just won the 200-meter dash in a record-breaking 19.8 sec. Carlos, his bearded teammate from San Jose State College, had finished third. Together, they turned up for the awards ceremony shoeless, wearing knee-length black stockings and a black glove on one hand (the right for Tommie, the left for John). Along with Australia’s Peter Norman, the second-place finisher, they mounted the victory pedestal to receive their medals. Then, as the U.S. flag was raised and the band struck up The Star-Spangled Banner, the two black athletes bowed their heads and raised their gloved hands in a clenched-fist salute. A wave of boos rippled through the spectators as the pair left the field. Smith and Carlos responded by making interesting gestures at the stands.
“At a press conference later, the two men explained that the black stockings represented poverty; the black fists meant black power and black unity. Said Smith: ‘We are black and proud to be black. White America will say “an American won,” not “a black American won.” If it had been something bad, they would have said “a Negro.”‘ Added Carlos, somewhat disjointedly: ‘White people seem to think we’re animals. I want people to know we’re not animals, not inferior animals, like cats and rats. They think we’re some sort of show horse. They think we can perform and they will throw us some peanuts and say “Good boy, good boy.”‘
“Effective but Petty. As a way of calling attention to racial strife in the U.S., the demonstration was undeniably effective. But it was also painfully petty. East Germans, Russians, even Cubans, all stand at attention when The Star-Spangled Banner or any other national anthem is played. Other equally militant U.S. black athletes were aghast at Smith and Carlos’ actions. ‘I came here to win a gold medal—not to talk about black power,’ said Ohio’s Willie Davenport next day after winning the 110-meter high hurdles. He stood straight and tall and proud on the Olympic pedestal.”
As a white male with black friends, I had just graduated from USC and was preparing to begin seminary the fall after those summer games. I remember being very angry at the gesture. Looking back, they were probably right and I was probably wrong. Their point certainly stands up.
These 40 years hence, however, I find myself chagrined at the attitude of probably 80%+ of the African-American players in the NBA. They now make millions and have access and privilege that goes beyond anything the “average American” can enjoy. Most live in the lap of luxury. Fully 19 of the 20 highest paid players in the NBA are black. They earn from a low of $14,520,000 per year (Michael Redd) to a high of $22,000,000 per year (Kevin Garnett). Yet they still do not find it possible to lift their heads during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner as though they might have some respect for the country which pays them these outrageous sums to play basketball. Instead, they look at the floor with expressions on their faces more appropriate for a graveside.
Maybe I still don’t get it. Or, maybe they don’t realize how good they have it, thanks to men like Carlos and Smith.