Fists of Freedom: An Olympic Story Not Taught in Schools - Education - GOOD

Fists of Freedom: An Olympic Story Not Taught in Schools - Education - GOOD:

Fists of Freedom: An Olympic Story Not Taught in Schools

by Dave Zirin

It's been almost 44 years since Tommie Smith and John Carlos took the medal stand following the 200-meter dash at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and created what must be considered the most enduring, riveting image in the history of either sports or protest. But while the image has stood the test of time, the struggle that led to that moment has been cast aside.
When mentioned at all in U.S. history textbooks, the famous photo appears with almost no context. For example, Pearson/Prentice Hall’s United States History places the photo opposite a short three-paragraph section, "Young Leaders Call for Black Power." The photo's caption says simply that "...U.S. athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised gloved fists in protest against discrimination."
The media—and school curricula—fail to address the context that produced Smith and Carlos' famous gesture of