THE OLYMPICS

(Mexico-1968)

Black Power

Picture by: www.emaze.com

It was a sign in protest of Civil Rights in the U.S. It happened after the 22-meter race in these Olympics by the Afroamerican athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who were gold and bronze, once on the podium, raised their fists wearing a black glove while the national anthem was sounding. These actions were inspired by the psychologist Harry Edwars, who prompted athletes to boycott the Olympic Games.

The black glove represented the black power.

Picture by: www.marca.com

We believe it was an act of bravery and courage by these athletes who even knowing that this would have serious consequences for their careers and lives, chose to continue the protest forward and so influenced, the society of the time and fought for the rights of black people.

Finally they and their families were threatened with death. The fact of defending something as basic as equality has these consequences is unthinkable today.

These were John Carlos words:

IF I WIN, I´M AMERICAN, NOT AFROAMERICAN, BUT IF I DO SOMETHING WRONG I´M BLACK.

WE ARE BLACK AND WE ARE PROUD OF IT.

BLACKAMERICA WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DID TONIGHT.

Post by: Isabel Zamora Sánchez

Elena Vidal Nogales

Alfonso Panduro Porrua

Francisco Carrero Nogales