Unidentified Artist
Description
Tommie Smith won gold in the 200-meter sprint at the 1968 Olympic Summer Games in Mexico City, but he and John Carlos, who won bronze in the event, are best known for their gesture of protest during the medal ceremony. As the Star Spangled Banner played and two American flags were raised, Smith and Carlos stood on the victory platform with their black-gloved fists lifted in the air and their heads bowed down.Smith was a multiple national and world record holder in the 200 meters, and like Carlos and other African American athletes, he had a growing political consciousness, especially on issues of race. While his career as an athlete eventually faded, he went on to become a teacher and a track coach and has continued to be involved in social causes.Tommie Smith ganó medalla de oro en la carrera de 200 metros en las Olimpiadas de Verano celebradas en 1968 en Ciudad de México. No obstante, él y John Carlos, quien ganó el bronce en el evento, son más conocidos por su gesto de protesta durantela ceremonia de entrega de medallas. Mientras se escuchaba el himno de Estados Unidos y se izaban dos banderas estadounidenses, Smith y Carlos permanecieron en la tarima alzando el puño con guantes negros y con la cabeza baja.Smith era poseedor de varios récords nacionales y mundiales en los 200 metros y, al igual que Carlos y otros atletas afroamericanos, iba adquiriendo conciencia política, sobre todo en lo referente a asuntos raciales. Cuando su carrera...
Image
Gelatin Silver Print
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; acquired through the generosity of David C. Ward
