Just taking a minute to send you to a great article in the Los Angeles Times on John Carlos and Tommie Smith, the American sprinters more renowned for their Black Power raised fist statement on race than for the race they ran. (Smith won the 200 meters, Carlos was third).
I was 2 when they made their statement in Mexico City in 1968, so no, I didn't see it. But as a sports fan, a runner and eventually a sportswriter, I've been aware of it and parts of the story behind it for as long as I can remember.
In the story, writer David Davis quotes Sociologist Harry Edwards as saying "One hundred years from now, what will matter was that their gesture became the iconic image of a phenomenal era, when people from Muhammad Ali to Curt Flood changed the face, the image and the dynamics of American sport."
In a way, their fearlessness and courage was also part of an era that changed America. Sports have become such an integral part of our society. Smith and Carlos were among the men and women who paved the way for Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, two men who not only transcend sports but also race.
At the same time, I hope Davis' article reminds readers of the fear and outrage that spread like a California wildfire 40 years ago, sparked by that simple, silent gesture. It's unimaginable today, but that doesn't mean the race for equality and justice is over. Too many people are still running.
What I ask is that readers remember the struggle, learn the history and teach the future. It's the only way we'll get any closer to the finish line.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment