Black History Month Project - Upper 8
Date: 11th Oct 2017 @ 2:35pm
Tommie Smith and John Carlos
For Black History Month Upper 8 studied Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, the two black athletes held a silent protest during the medals ceremony.
They had won gold and bronze medals in the 200m. During the National Anthems, they stood with their heads bowed and one hand raised to protest about the racial segregation in America at that time.
The Olympic committee condemned the actions and the two athletes were suspended and sent home. Many people were upset that politics had crept into the games.
They received death threats on their return to America, but the Olympic Project for Human Rights carried on and now this action is seen as a significant step forward in the Civil Rights Movement.
Take a look at our artwork, which honours the two brave men.