Symbolic Protest
In 1968, during the Mexico Olympic Games, two African American athletes made the Black Power salute during their medal ceremony. They had won the gold and bronze medals in the men's 200-metre race. They had stepped up to the podium without their shoes, wearing black socks (symbolizing poverty among African Americans), civil rights buttons and one black glove each. When the American anthem was played, they bowed their heads and each raised a fist in the air, in a gesture of protest against racism in the United States. The Australian 200-metre silver medalist wore a human rights badge on the podium as a sign of solidarity.
Smith and Carlos were suspended from the US team and banned from the Olympic Village. Back home they were subject to abuse and they and their families received death threats.
