1968: Black Americans or Negro Americans?

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.