Tommie Smith & John Carlos - SALUTE [1968]

Tommie Smith & John Carlos

Photographer: Platon.

The image is an indelible ‘universal’ locked into the human psyche I believe with anyone with any sensibility, sensitivity or social awareness but the story unfolding about the two men travelling to Australia to act as pall bearers for the largely forgotten ‘brother’ in arms always really got to me. That in itself is heroic in my view, a testament to soul and care and humanity!

"At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith, aged 24, won the 200-meter sprint finals and gold medal in 19.83 seconds – the first time the 20-second barrier was broken legally. Carlos was the bronze-medal winner in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Peter Norman, from Australia, should not be left out of this story. For providing Smith and Carlos with the gloves they wore, and for wearing a pin in support of the cause, he was ostracized in his homeland. He never regained his athletic prowess. Tommie Smith and John Carlos were pallbearers at his funeral."

 

Peter Norman,Tommie Smith & John Carlos (l-r)

I often wondered . . . . . . . . I well recall the Black Power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the Mexican Olympics in 1968 and admired them for such a stand. I was young enough [15] to register the event with shock and excitement with the frisson that something was happening and did not yet understand the full implications or ramifications but occasionally wondered at the white man who came third and what his story might be . . . . . . . . they discussed what they intended to do with Peter Norman the Australian athlete and he quickly found a fellow Olympian with a Human Rights badge and wore it on the rostrum.

 As a result he was ostracised and became a footnote in sport and he died broke and sick and dishonoured by his countrymen and elsewhere. Tommie and John turned up in Australia to carry his coffin when he passed away in 2006. Of course we focussed on the actions of Smith and Carlos but I wondered about the Bronze medallist. All three men an awesome part of Black Rights, Human Rights, and standing up for what you believe in. I am indebted to Ice T who posted this on Twitter in case we forget our collective history 

 PHOTO: Tommie Smith (left) and John Carlos carry the coffin of Peter Norman in Melbourne in 2006. (AAP: Julian Smith)

ABC News article on Peter Norman