Fight for Black Pride

This was supposed to have been another medal presentation in line. Still, the “Black Power” movement entered the scene, full throttle.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos ran the 200 metre race and won gold and silver. Organisers of the Mexico City Olympic Games in 1968 did not expect for the most memorable moment in the history of presentations of medals to occur.

When the American anthem started playing, Smith and Carlos closed their eyes, bowed their heads and raised their fists. The black glove on Smith’s hand symbolised “black power”.

The two athletes were under the influence of young sociologist Harry Edwards. He proposed that all African-American athletes boycott the Games. He thus wanted to draw attention to the injustice which African-Americans were subject to in America.

Time of disarray

The “Black Power” movement appeared in the USA during the middle of the 1960`s. This was a time of disarray and the Civil Rights Movement with which African-Americans wanted to abolish discrimination. Mass gatherings and speeches here held throughout the country. African-Americans realised their rights very slowly and it appeared as though the Civil Rights Movement was not yielding results. Black Power soon grew larger and overshadowed this movement, which was not revolutionary enough in their opinion. The movement`s supporters, although not all, believed in violent methods, black nationalism, black supremacy and Pan-Africanism. They believed that assimilation and integration of African-Americans into the white society was actually another form of slavery. They thus loose their dignity and tradition.

Key figures of the movement

Stokley Carmichael and Mukasa Dada coined the slogan “Black Power”. They were members of the Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Committee which headed the Civil Rights Movement. They became critical of the non-violent approach to racism and inequality.

One of the most avid movement supporters was Malcom X. He advocated “black pride”, economic and political independence and freedom from white power. He was the spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, which, next to the Black Panthers, had a key role in the Black Power movement. His style, rhetoric and attitude became recognisable for the movement. He changed his surname to X because, as he said, it symbolises anonymity of slaves. Their supporters followed a certain dress code: leather jackets, berets, light blue shirts and afro hair styles. Their activities mostly consisted of attacks of Ku Klux Klan members, organisations of free breakfasts, showing of shotguns and raising fists with black gloves. They shouted “Power to the People”.

Prisoners have an important role

Movement members organised themselves in prisons. George Jackson organised the “Black Guerilla Family” in San Quentin. It was his desire to overthrow white people and the Jews from positions of power. The correction officer who fired at three African-Americans was found killed and chopped up to pieces, which was a message that the organisation`s intentions were serious. The same group organised the African disarrays in New York which lead to taking over control in the Attica prison. Still today, the “Black Guerilla Family” is one of the most infamous advocates of the Black Power movement in prisons.

Life-time suspension

The movement was never presented live on national television. The media in America almost ignored it and reported only information on disarrays and disturbances. The gesture which was seen by the entire world, fist raising by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, remained remembered for all times. They came to the podium wrapped up in a black scarf and in black socks which symbolised poverty. Two top athletes were expelled from the Olympic Games instantly, later on from the International Olympic Committee and received a life-time suspention of competing.