San Jose State Remembers Historic Olympic Moment, Honors Tommy Smith and John Carlos

Most of the Bay Area is acquainted with the iconic infinitesimal erstwhile 2 San Jose authorities sprinters raised their fist successful protestation astatine the 1968 Olympics successful Mexico City. But fewer admit what happened to the 2 men aft they stepped down from the medal stand.

It was 53 years agone successful the period of October that Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised their fists successful protestation astatine the Olympics successful Mexico City and connected Tuesday, students and module remembered the sacrifices the 2 men made and echoed.

The golden and bronze medal winners raised their fists portion connected the medal basal to protestation racism and injustice against African-Americans successful the United States. They didn't utter a connection but their actions spoke volumes.

“They took their shoes disconnected to correspond poorness successful America, particularly Black America,” said Dr. Akilah Carter Francique.

She is the enforcement manager of the Institute for the Study of Sports Society and Social Change astatine San Jose State.

She said fewer radical cognize what beingness was similar for the athletes aft they were ousted from the Olympic games.

“It was a hardship. It was not a bully acquisition for them oregon their families; they were not capable to find enactment and they were perpetually followed by the FBI,” said Carter Francique.

Dr. Robert Griffin was connected the Speed City Track squad with Smith and Carlos. He said aft the Olympics, their way careers ended, they were not embraced by San Jose State erstwhile they returned and their lives were often threatened.

“They understood and endured the consequences,” said Griffin “Tommy Smith worked astatine a car wash, tin you ideate an Olympic golden medalist moving astatine a car wash?”

On Tuesday, successful the shadiness of a statue honoring their actions, students praised Smith and Carlos for demanding alteration contempt the consequences. And for inspiring them to combat for societal alteration too.

“Every time connected this field we take to emergence and combat for what we judge successful conscionable similar Smith and Carlos sacrificed for the greater good,” said Melissa Williams, presidents of the Black Student Union. 

The powerfulness of 2 men who decided to instrumentality a basal for justness nary substance the cost.