Last night I was reading S.I.s "Where are they now issue",when I came upon a story about John Carlos. Which is to say it was really a story about John Carlos and Tommie Smith, two athletes that are linked historically probably as much as any other pair in history. If you don't know the names you undoubtedly know the picture taken at the 1968 Olympics. The image of Carlos and Smith, shoeless, heads bowed and black gloved fists defiantly raised in the Mexico City air was seared across the world consciousness of that era. Life Magazine actually declared it one of the 20 most influientel images of the 20th Century.
In the S.I. article both men take credit for creating the symbolic gesture of both human and civil rights that night. One thing they both agree on is the turmoil that rocked both their lives immediately after they left the podium. Both Carlos and Smith were given 48 hours to leave Mexico City. Both were welcomed back to the United States with death threats. Both were ostracized and unable to find work. The pressure on Carlos led to a separation and the eventual suicide of his wife, Kim.
Through the years both were able to put their lives back together but a rift developed between the two. The details on both sides are long and at time seem somewhat petty in light of all that's happened since 1968, basically Carlos has went on record saying that he let Smith win the race. For his part Smith has questioned Carlos credentials as a Hall of Fame athlete and considers him far to talkative.
Ironically, two men that united to "speak" in silent protest of the injustice being heaped on their people by their country now no longer speak to each other. There's a sad lesson in this somewhere.
One more footnote to the story:
In 2006 they were forced to get together to serve as pall bearers for Peter Norman, the "other fella" on the stand that day in Mexico City. Norman, to his credit, knew what the two had planned and still stood unwavering by them. That might not seem like much these days but consider that journalist (Brent Musburger specifically)compared Carlos and Smith to "Black Skinned Nazi's". Both men spoke glowingly of Norman and stood side by side while carrying the coffin.
Only they know if anything was said to each other.
In the S.I. article both men take credit for creating the symbolic gesture of both human and civil rights that night. One thing they both agree on is the turmoil that rocked both their lives immediately after they left the podium. Both Carlos and Smith were given 48 hours to leave Mexico City. Both were welcomed back to the United States with death threats. Both were ostracized and unable to find work. The pressure on Carlos led to a separation and the eventual suicide of his wife, Kim.
Through the years both were able to put their lives back together but a rift developed between the two. The details on both sides are long and at time seem somewhat petty in light of all that's happened since 1968, basically Carlos has went on record saying that he let Smith win the race. For his part Smith has questioned Carlos credentials as a Hall of Fame athlete and considers him far to talkative.
Ironically, two men that united to "speak" in silent protest of the injustice being heaped on their people by their country now no longer speak to each other. There's a sad lesson in this somewhere.
One more footnote to the story:
In 2006 they were forced to get together to serve as pall bearers for Peter Norman, the "other fella" on the stand that day in Mexico City. Norman, to his credit, knew what the two had planned and still stood unwavering by them. That might not seem like much these days but consider that journalist (Brent Musburger specifically)compared Carlos and Smith to "Black Skinned Nazi's". Both men spoke glowingly of Norman and stood side by side while carrying the coffin.
Only they know if anything was said to each other.
UPDATE:
At the 2008 ESPY Awards Carlos and Smith were presented with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. John Carlos took a moment from his speech to address the rift between himself and Smith that has been reported widely:
“I think it was a very important issue to bring up, talking about the unity and love we have each other and tried to expound to the world.To have this divide, and have people think this divide is greater than the energy we created on the victory stand, this is not what I'm looking for. We're trying to have this love and harmony and unity for the sake of ourselves and of the world. They focus more on the pettiness than they do on the goodness.”
It was nice and inspiring to hear and see them together, confronting this issue ( even if only Carlos spoke). While watching this magnanimous statement I really had a feeling Carlos was speaking far more to his old friend Smith than to those of us watching.
At least I hope so.
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