News Clip--October 18, 1968: Gold Medalist Tommie Smith and Bronze Medalist John Carlos Suspended

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The U.S. Olympic Committee suspends Gold Medalist Tommie Smith and Bronze Medalist John Carlos for giving the “black power” salute as a protest during the awards ceremony for the 200 meter race. The IOC forces the Olympic Committee to withdraw the two athletes from the relays, banish them from the Olympic Village, and expel them from the Olympic team.

Source and Source

The following six-part BBC documentary provides an in-depth look at the background leading up to Tommie Smith and John Carlos' controversial black power salute, resulting in their permanent ban from the future Olympics, and the ensuing aftermath of that courageous act.

Part 4 is especially poignant, moving, and historically important; viewers are offered in-depth footage of the actual medal ceremony in which Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their fists in solidarity, even as they paid a personal price for their political statement. Parts 5 and 6 emphasize just how much this one act of dissidence changed the Civil Rights Movement.

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Black Power Salute (Part 1/6)



Black Power Salute (Part 2/6)



Black Power Salute (Part 3/6)



Black Power Salute (Part 4/6)



Black Power Salute (Part 5/6)



Black Power Salute (Part 6/6)



Benandonner1

At the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games the enduring image was Tommie Smith and John Carlos, the African American athletes raising their gloved clenched fists in support of the Black Panther movement during the Star Spangled Banner, they were subsequently banned from the Games for life. This film looks at what inspired them to make their protest, and what happened to them after the Games.

Featuring Tommie Smith, Lee Evans, Bob Beamon and Delroy Lindo. Some strong language.

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Thanks, Benandonner1, for posting this awesome documentary. You rock!
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