The Men Who Raised Their Fists: Remembering The Olympic Protests Of 1968

Fifty years ago Tuesday, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos – both young, black athletes ­– raised their fists in protest as the national anthem played at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

The “black power salute” ensured the men would be both celebrated and vilified. And it's a reminder that athletes protesting at sporting events is not new.

WFDD's Sean Bueter spoke with Winston-Salem State University's Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education, Dr. Darryl Scriven, about the 1968 black power salute and its echoes in sports today.

Interview Highlights

On the fallout endured by Smith and Carlos:

They were students at San Jose State College at that time. They were celebrated as heroes. There were other athletes that also protested as well. But after that initial celebration they were ostracized. They they lost their standing in society. They were pretty much treated as a pariah, and they were. Some of them went to other countries because they weren't treated fairly. And this lasted decades.

On the parallels between the repercussions of the 1968 incident and modern sports protests:

There were repercussions. Smith and Carlos were sent home after that. In this same way athletes today – particularly Colin Kaepernick and others – have said that the NFL has colluded to ban them from the sport because of their protest. And so these are not only social reprisals but they have economic repercussions as well. A game or career that you train most of your life for, you're unable to play because of your political position.

On the news that Eric Reid, a teammate of embattled quarterback Colin Kaepernick, was hired by the Carolina Panthers this season:

I think it is a mark of progress because, unlike in 1968, [what's happening] now which is notable is that Nike embraces Colin Kaepernick as a symbol of freedom of expression and "Just Doing It" [Nike's slogan] and the fact that an NFL team embraces one of Kaepernick's fellow teammates who knelt with him shows a kind of progress, an evolving standard of what it means to be decent, as well as to have a difference but being able to compromise on a deeper level for a greater good in a society that is marked by diversity and should be able to collaborate in ways even if we don't always agree.

(Ed.: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.)