The Olympics' Promise to Bring Countries Together Essay

The 1968 Olympics in Mexico City black power salute was an act of protest by the African American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos during their medal ceremony. Tommie Smith and John Carlos were both students at San Jose State University. What Smith and Carlos had done was one of the most memorable moments in the American Civil Rights Movement. Carlos recalls, “What was truly special was not the statue, but how it came about. Students on campus organized a movement that made the statue happen.”

Later, Smith concluded that their actions were not of a Black power salute, but an Olympic project for human rights. He also stated that the Black-gloved fists represented African-American pride, and their black socks were a testament to poverty encountered by African-Americans during those times (Boogard, 2000,p. D1). The U.S. organizing committee immediately removed Smith and Carlos from the track and field team as a result of their protest. Smith and Carlos however took advantage of their day in the spotlight and made news around the world. They stood for something that is needed to be corrected, which was racism, and took a stand. Over the years, the tensions of racism slowly decreased in the U.S., as a result of one of the biggest nationwide protest ever seen.

Ever since September of last year, the NFL National Anthem Protest has been one of the most controversial topics across social-media, alongside with other protests against police brutality. Many have criticized for such an action for being disrespectful to the National Anthem and Flag. Those, who have supported it, claim to protest against the nationwide police brutalities against the Black people. Looking back to the history of the United States, such sports protests are not a unique incident. During 1968 Olympic game, which are hold in Mexico City, African American Athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists to speak for black civil rights. Yet, back then both the U.S. government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not show support for such an action, though today the IOC claimed that the black American athletes has made names for themselves for doing such protests.

African-American’s all over the US must have felt pride in seeing them fight for their freedom, for themselves and their

Smith and Carlos showed how sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for the betterment of society. This protest also reminds us that if only the groups that want change make a stand, it will take a lot longer for change to happen. Since Norman gave them the one glove idea and wore a patch supporting human rights, he was the symbol for all others that need to help minority groups get justice. He was a white Australian and risked his athletic career to help Smith and Carlos. We can’t expect minority groups to make all the sacrifices to make America to give all Americans equal rights. Protests need to be a group effort by everyone if we want to make a difference. Even though the were hated at first, there are sculptures and murals all around the world of this protest. People are starting to see the impact that Smith and Carlos had on the world. They became an icon for social movements and protests. Colin Kaepernick is the new Smith and Carlos. He noticed change needed to happen so he risked his athletic career and image for the sake of is black brothers and sisters who are being treated

The outbreak of African American’s into the world of sports throughout the 1900’s emerged to have an influential impact on the Civil Right’s movement because they started to move our nation forward as one nation and not a nation separated by race. “Whether it was a conscious stand or unintentional advocacy, athletes and coaches throughout the past century used their participation in sports to change the racial atmosphere in our country” (The Role of Sports Among the Civil Rights Movement). Athletes became more and more useful in the fight for Civil Rights with more recognition they received in the years to follow

Throughout the course of the civil rights movement, African Americans were making strides to reach their goal of equality. As most movements go, there were a lot different factors that went into this movement. Different people voicing their opinions as to what they thought equality was. Many African Americans had something to say, but had no way of of voicing their stance. Many broke out in protest and violence in an attempt to get their views across, but there were others that had their own unique way of getting their point across. This paper will focus on black athletes and their fight against discrimination, their fight for equality, how they were able to stay sane through it all, and the reaction they gained throughout their attempt to fully integrate and to be socially accepted in sports.

The opinion piece published by Lonnie Bunch and David Skorton, discusses the rights and equality of people everywhere “The Athletic as Agent of Change,”. From the passage “Athletes Use Platform to Address Injustice,” the authors wrote that athletes have been protesting about the unfair treatment of African-Americans ever since, the Olympians, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in the 1968 Summer Olympics. “Tommie Smith and John Carlos, for instance, raised their fists during the 1968 Summer Olympics to protest the unfair treatment of African-Americans” (Bunch and Skorton, 4). Carlos and Smith were protesting because they were African-American and wanted to stand up for all African-Americans that might be treated unfairly. They

The three superstar athlete’s motive for doing such an action was they wanted to show that no matter your race you are able to have equal rights. The glove they wore on their hand was black, this also known as The Black Power Sign. Peter Norman

In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, three men took a stand in hopes to unite as a group of people. To ensure that there was justice for all, this stand was taken of black people firming their dignity, not just black power. When the salute happened, all three men received a lot of hate and wrath of this courageous stand, but they brought awareness globally to this topic which helped during this time of the Civil Rights Movement. People in the 1960s, especially African Americans were not treated fairly and there was a lot of segregation. Also during this time, African Americans were on the rise of being involved in sports at all levels. This however didn’t grant them more equality or respect for being an athlete. “African American athletes remained second-class

The event that I believe to be a staple for the overlap of sports, politics and nationalism is the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City. During a medal ceremony, African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed a silent political demonstration. They work a black glove on their right hands and raised their fist in the air during the national anthem that was played after they received their medals. They also worse civil rights badges on their jackets. This moment became known as the “Black Power” salute. Smith, however, said that this was a “human rights salute.” At first it was just a fist held high during the national anthem, but soon that stance became a vision of the human’s right movement. The photo of Smith and Carlos became

With over two hundred countries participating, the Olympic Games is easily considered as one of the largest multisport event known to history. The Olympics are held at a different country, and even more rarely at the same city. For a country to be chosen to host the Olympics, the country’s National Olympic Committee (the country’s representatives for the Olympics) nominates a city (from the country they represent) that they think has potential in hosting the Olympics nine years prior to when they wish to host the Olympics. It is a two year process that consists of: Application Phase, Candidate Phase and the Election of the Host City. The country that wins the election is given seven years to prepare for the Olympics. (International

The Olympic Games have been around for many centuries and they have helped old civilizations and countries for example, the Olympic Games have helped history, improved the training and preparation of athletes, and brought about many new sports and hobbies for athletes.

The Olympic events were the most important part of the ancient Olympic events. The Corebus was one of the very first Olympic events. It was a 600 foot race by Hercules. The very first winner was Koroibos of Elis, he was a humble Greek cook, Baker and athlete. He was the first and only winner in the very first Olympics in 776 B.C.E. He received an olive wreath for his victory. This race was only for men. Well the whole Olympics were only for men in ancient Greece. The Pentathlon was another important Olympic event we still have today. The Pentathlon was a foot race, discus throwing, long jump, Javelin throwing, running, and wrestling. We still have this event today in our modern day Olympics but instead it is fencing, 200m freestyle swimming,

The article begins with Smith portraying what sports look like today: an “extravaganza.” She explains how politics are involved in all sporting events. Smith puts emphasis on how athletes/national figures have the impact to influence more people with their actions. She uses Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, an NBA player who was required to stand for the National Anthem, and Sheryl Crow, a famous American musician who caused a debt to whether it was appropriate to wear an anti-war T-shirt while performing, as examples to prove her point. Smith’s article leads up to justify her actions in a Division III basketball game that she decided to turn away from the flag and remove her hand from her heart. Smith briefly defends herself as to why her actions are justified, and how she has the right to do so. She uses analogies to relate to people and get everyone to see her point of view.