The picture of Smith raising his black-gloved right fist at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics is one of the most enduring sports images of the 20th century. Nearly 40 years later, he details what the gesture symbolized for him and reveals what his life has been since.
At the 1968 Olympics, Tommie Smith and his teammate John Carlos came in first and third in the 200-metre sprint. In this text, Smith explains why, as they received their medals, both men raised a black-gloved fist, creating an image that has symbolized the conflicts of race, politics, and sports.