Former Olympic bronze medalist John Carlos’ actions on the medal stand of the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City helped produce one of the most iconic images of that decade and of the civil rights movement. The picture taken of that moment with Carlos’ and gold medalist Tommie Smith’s fists in the air still resonates 43 years later, and Carlos does not want that message to fade away.
“What I want people to take away, probably more so than anything, is to let them know they have the power in their minds to make successful changes in society,” Carlos said.
Carlos spoke Tuesday night in a full 182 Lillis, on a tour to promote his new autobiography, “The John Carlos Story,” along with coauthor Dave Zirin, sports editor for The Nation and host of Edge of Sports Radio on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
Before Carlos gave his presentation, Zirin explained his motivation of how he became interested in Carlos’ story.
“You see people born decades after 1968, and they are moved by this image,” Zirin said. “We want people to know that it was more than a moment, it was a movement.”
In the start of Carlos’ speech, he said he never intended to be a social leader, instead mentioning that he wanted to be the first black Olympic swimmer.
“I didn’t start out to be no civil activist. I didn’t want to be no leader,” Carlos said. “I just wanted to catch all the girls in the neighborhood.”
But when Carlos became a world-class sprinter, it changed his perspective on being socially conscious. @@Matt, trim the details here for print. Just sum it up with “Carlos and Smith tried to lead a boycott of the Olympics by minority athletes that did not pan out,” and then continue from where that leaves off.@@He and Smith attempted to start a boycott of the 1968 Olympics by all black athletes, with four central demands: restoring Muhammad Ali’s boxing title that had been stripped of him for conscientiously objecting to the Vietnam War; getting more African-American coaches for the U.S. national team (which had only one at the time); disallow Apartheid nations South Africa and Rhodesia from the Olympics and forcing Avery Brundage — whom Carlos called a “white supremacist and Fascist” — to step down as head of the International Olympic Committee. The boycott did not pan out, but Carlos and Smith instead decided to go onto the podium with black gloves and bare feet to symbolize the oppression suffered by minorities throughout the world.
Carlos spent much of his speech interspersing anecdotes about his time growing up in Harlem, describing how his upbringing helped him understand himself and how he channeled that into his decision to protest during the Olympics. When asked about how others could continue on the same path as him, he replied succinctly.
“Get in touch with that person in the mirror,” Carlos said. “Know who you are.”
The event was sponsored by the University’s Multicultural Center, whose co-director@@ap style@@, University romance languages major Michael King, coordinated the event.
“For this, I learned a lot about the history and struggle of the civil rights movement, but also what John Carlos had to overcome, both in his life before the 1968 Olympics and after, with the backlash he received,” King said.
University sophomore human physiology major Godwin Nwando showed up at the event with one black glove on, mimicking the gesture Carlos made more than four decades before.
“First of all, I saw that I had black gloves, and I realized that was an important part of the movement. Just being different than everyone else, because that’s what gets everyone’s attention — controversy,” Nwando said.
Carlos has tied his message of protest to the recent Occupy movement, speaking at many places, including Occupy Wall Street.
“I think that this image that we presented 43 years ago is a beacon for oppressed people around the world,” Carlos said. “I think it is relevant to these people out here doing the Occupys across the country as well, because we lit the candle 43 years ago, and the fire is still burning today to try and make equality and justice and make a level playing field for all people.”