• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

1968: Black Americans or Negro Americans?

You are here: Home / Track & Field / Olympic History / 1968: Black Americans or Negro Americans?
0
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

April 25, 2008 by Jimson Lee 3 Comments

Here is a video clip from the CBC archives.

The video shows Tommie Smith and John Carlos being interviewed immediately after their 1968 Olympic “Black Power” salute from their Gold and Bronze medal in the 200 meters. They were ordered by the IOC to leave the Olympic Village within 48 hours.

It also has Harry Jerome, the bronze medalist from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, being interviewed by CBC anchorman Lloyd Robertson.

Note how Jerome refers to his competitors as “Black Americans” while Robertson says “Negro Americans” or “Negro Athletes” several times. Check out Jerome’s facial reactions when this occurs! This was 1968, and certainly the political correctness and sensitivity has changed in the last 40 years!

39 years after the famous demonstration, Tommie Smith would write a book claiming it was not “Black Power” but a “Silent Gesture” which eventually became the title of the book.

Here is the excerpt and video from the CBC archives:

Television’s global gaze at the Olympics has spawned an inevitable byproduct — the global protest. American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos have rocked the Mexico City Olympics by raising their gloved hands in a black-power salute on the medal podium. The gesture, with heads bowed during The Star Spangled Banner, is evaluated by Canadian running great Harry Jerome in this clip from CBC’s Olympic coverage. Jerome, a black Canadian, has mixed feelings.

Jerome, who had won a bronze medal at the 1964 Games, agrees with the principle of fighting inequality. But the injection of politics into the medal ceremony has taken something away from other competitors in the race. The American Olympic Association should have sat down with the athletes before the Games and come up with a more appropriate display, says Jerome.

See also  Million Dollar Man Richard Thompson - Bigger than Ato Bolden?

Category iconOlympic History,  Track & Field,  Videos Tag icon200 meters,  Olympics,  speed

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. adarian says

    April 25, 2008 at 9:04 am

    The media likes to really inflame things.
    Black Power and Militancy are all that people will remember.
    They did not even know what the fist stood for and did not try to explain it to set it in it’s proper context.
    It goes back to how even representing the USA at the Olympics they still were black before they were Americans.

    Reply
  2. Jimson Lee says

    April 25, 2008 at 9:14 am

    @Adarian – But why did Tommie Smith wait 39 years to come out with his explanation? The timing of the book also co-incides with finishing his Ph. D.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (6)
  • Jimson Lee (4)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • Jim Hiserman - Developing 800m Runners: Identifying, Categorizing and Developing 400m-800m Type Athletes $42.99 $39.99
  • Private Coaching - Monthly Plan $600.00 $525.00
  • Jim Hiserman-Developing-Distance-Runnersv2 Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99

RECENT POSTS

  • Who is Credited with the Spin Technique in Shot Put?
  • Oregon22 Coaches Club now Online
  • IFAC 2022: The Return of In-Person Conferences (with Virtual option)
  • Here is our 400m Discussion Recording… over 2 Hours Long
  • The Best Free Coaching Book – post Beijing 2022 Olympics
  • The Ultimate 400m Track Webinar for Coaches & Athletes
  • NACAC Athletics Coaching Science Series 2022
  • Top Six 400m Predictor Workouts (Number 4 is my Favourite)
  • Best 6 Podcasts for 2021 (and Beyond)
  • Why Karsten Warholm’s 45.94 400mH WR is my Highlight of 2021

amazon – google ad


Copyright © 2023. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}