11/21/24
June 30, 2005
Smith and Carlos' 1968 protest will be immortalized in statue: "The real legacy of Tommie Smith and John Carlos in this statue is that they provided a point of focus to pose their enduring questions to a free society. What is the role of protest and patriotism in challenging times? To have this statue on a college campus, it's so appropriate. These questions will be debated as long as America is a free society."
Of course, we live in a time now when protest and dissent are not looked at as rights and duties of every good American, but as traitorous, so, regardless of how it came about, it is good to remember the good ol' days when a couple of crazy kids could do some good and at least TRY to wake the country up.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 05:15 PM on June 30, 2005
I think that there are far more people who accomplish far more without needing any more acknowledgement than knowing themselves that they are doing right. Smith and Carlos accomplished nothing more than embarrassing themselves and their country for very little return- a few minutes fame and a statue on a liberal campus in a liberal Bay Area. Most people will walk right by it and never realize what it is supposed to signify. I give it 10 years before it gets packed away into a campus storage shed.
posted by irunfromclones at 06:03 PM on June 30, 2005
Is the statue going to include Peter Norman, the white Australian who took the silver medal? I mean, he is always in the picture of the protest as well!
posted by graymatters at 06:15 PM on June 30, 2005
bring two pairs of gloves, 'cause if you have to share, you can't both raise the same hand in unity, and you look like idiots I think they later tried to explain this as one hand being for black power and the other being for black unity. Though, frankly, it just sounds like something they would make up to explain only having one pair of gloves.
posted by graymatters at 06:16 PM on June 30, 2005
I mean, he is always in the picture of the protest as well! And, as I recall, had a great attitude toward it when interviewed.
posted by yerfatma at 06:21 PM on June 30, 2005
Smith and Carlos accomplished nothing more than embarrassing themselves and their country for very little return They stood for what they believed in and brought attention to the plight of black Americans. How is that little return? They were willing to risk their medals in a non-violent protest, an act that definitely deserves commemoration. It has very little to do with current liberal vs. conservative politics and everything to do with the civil rights movement. This article has an explanation of the symbolism, including the black scarf and socks they wore. yerfatma, according to this Wikipedia article, Norman wore the Olympic Project for Human Rights logo and fully supported their actions.
posted by dusted at 06:44 PM on June 30, 2005
Norman wore the Olympic Project for Human Rights logo and fully supported their actions. Another reason that he should be included in the statue.
posted by graymatters at 07:03 PM on June 30, 2005
One of the earlier posters is a complete moron. "Smith and Carlos accomplished nothing more than embarrassing themselves and their country for very little return" What a stupid statement, in that time in our history the U.S.A had alot to be embarrased about all on it's own! This country was a joke and a very significant amount of white folks had alot of blood on their hands!!
posted by Big Dookie at 09:35 PM on June 30, 2005
The actions of Smith and Carlos were huge at the time and had a major positive impact on the Civil Rights Movement, as written by dusted. These guys did what they felt would get the most attention for their cause, and they did it with dignity and grace. When Walter Cronkite reported this you could almost hear living rooms across America saying, "Right on!" Good for Smith and Carlos...they deserve a statue in their memory and I also hope Norman is included.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 07:52 AM on July 01, 2005
first off, anyone not born or old enough at the time of the Mexico City Olympics, SHOULDN'T EVEN BE MAKING A COMMENT! You were't alive or old enogh to know WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT IT'S IMPORTANCE WAS. I was 9, but I remember we talked about it at school. I went to a private school and we all agreed it was disrespectful to the American Flag and to America itself for them to do what they did. it was selfish and self-serving and to be honest, it might be the starting point for every other protest of it's type since then. That, in fact, my be the beginning of the whole "me first" attitude that prevails in todays society from atheletes to actors..ect This statue will become a mythical symbol to those who were not there and do not realize how disgusting it was for the whole world to see how blacks in this country had little respect for the USA and in my opinion still don't.
posted by bluekarma at 09:29 AM on July 01, 2005
Okay, that's some quality trolling by bluekarma there. I think everyone can realize that he's not really THAT stupid, and is just saying these things to get a rise out of people. Just let it go. Don't feed the troll. Let it go.
posted by grum@work at 09:33 AM on July 01, 2005
Yeah, Karma is clearly an idiot, if America would have given two shits about people of color they would have neve done the "black fist" protest in the first place. American as I said before embarrased itself.
posted by Big Dookie at 10:21 AM on July 01, 2005
All y'all shut up. I think anyone attending private elementary school at the time has a good feel for the Black Condition in the '60s.
posted by yerfatma at 12:36 PM on July 01, 2005
I think anyone attending private elementary school at the time has a good feel for the Black Condition in the '60s. So true. After all, who's more in touch with real life and values than a nine year old shut away in a playpen?
posted by billsaysthis at 02:56 PM on July 01, 2005
I think anyone attending private elementary school at the time has a good feel for the Black Condition in the '60s.... Yes, it must have felt like Ground Zero. a nine year old shut away in a playpen With an unhealthy dose of self-importance in his mouth.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 03:00 PM on July 01, 2005
On topic, I'll say (as someone who was attending public elementary school at the time) that these athletes are a symbol of one factor that makes America great and differentiates us from most other nations in the past and present: Free speech. That's far more worthy of a statue than all the frozen generals and explorers and exploiters plopped all over our country.
posted by billsaysthis at 03:00 PM on July 01, 2005
Who's freezing generals? I know about Hitler's brain, but is there a chance Stonewall Jackson: On Ice is coming to my town?
posted by yerfatma at 03:04 PM on July 01, 2005
The part where Frozen Stonewall rescues the princess and slays the troll is great, but the big musical finale was really worth the price of admission AND all the $7 beers.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 03:21 PM on July 01, 2005
One of the earlier posters is a complete moron. "Smith and Carlos accomplished nothing more than embarrassing themselves and their country for very little return" What a stupid statement, in that time in our history the U.S.A had alot to be embarrased about all on it's own! This country was a joke and a very significant amount of white folks had alot of blood on their hands!! posted by Big Dookie at 9:35 PM CST on June 30 Sticks and stones Big, sticks and stones. Calling someone a moron simply because they don't always agree with your perceptions is a significant step towards de-humanizing them. It was a singular personality trait of the Nazi movement. Smith and Carlos drew more attention to themselves than to any cause. All I am saying is that there are a lot more black people that accomplish far more for their cause and remain anonymous. And let's not be hating by making exxagerations like "a very significant amount of white folks had alot of blood on their hands". What does that mean? The majority of white folks in America have actually killed minorities or stood by while it happened? Ancient history pal. A white prosecutor and a white judge with a mostly white jury just sentenced a klansman to a life sentence in Mississippi. That's a state in the deep South.
posted by irunfromclones at 04:54 PM on July 01, 2005
Who's freezing generals? Mebbe its the Washington Generals who are being put on ice(?).
posted by lilnemo at 05:20 PM on July 01, 2005
Actually, the real legacy of Tommie Smith and John Carlos will always be, bring two pairs of gloves, 'cause if you have to share, you can't both raise the same hand in unity, and you look like idiots. If I remember the history of this protest, it wasn't nearly as romantic and heroic as it's been portrayed all these years. I may be remembering wrong, but I seem to recall reading a few detailed articles over the years...if I'm wrong, I sincerely apologize.