Question
Here is the question : TWO ATHLETES FAMOUSLY MADE WHAT GESTURE AT THE 1968 OLYMPIC GAMES?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- High five
- Thumbs up
- Black Power fist
- Military salute
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
Tommie Smith and John Carlos, both of the United States, competed in the 200-meter race at the Summer Olympics held in Mexico City in 1968. Smith won the gold medal, and Carlos won the bronze medal. They gave an homage to the Black Power movement by raising their right fists in the air while the national anthem was playing in the background. Both of these athletes were a part of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, which worked to bring awareness to issues of racial inequality by capitalising on the publicity surrounding the Olympic Games.
The 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City were marked by a powerful and controversial moment when two American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, made a gesture that would become iconic. During the medal ceremony for the 200-meter race, Smith and Carlos raised their fists in the air, wearing black gloves, as a symbol of the Black Power movement.
The Black Power movement was a social and political movement that emerged in the United States in the 1960s, advocating for the empowerment of Black people and the recognition of their rights and dignity. The movement was characterized by its militancy and confrontational tactics, and it was seen as a threat to the status quo by many white Americans.
Smith and Carlos were both members of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, an organization that sought to use the platform of the Olympic Games to draw attention to issues of racial inequality and social injustice. They had planned their gesture in advance, intending to use their moment on the podium to make a statement.
The gesture was met with outrage and condemnation by many Americans, who saw it as disrespectful to the flag and the country. The International Olympic Committee responded by banning Smith and Carlos from the Olympic Games for life, and they were also vilified by many in the media and the public.
Smith and Carlos’ gesture came to symbolize a powerful moment of resistance and defiance in the face of oppression. The image of the two athletes with their fists raised in the air became an iconic symbol of the Black Power movement, and it has been celebrated and imitated by activists and athletes around the world.
In recent years, the legacy of Smith and Carlos has been revisited and re-evaluated. Many have recognized their bravery and courage in speaking out against racism and injustice, and their gesture has been seen as a historical moment that paved the way for other acts of protest and resistance.
The Black Power fist remains a powerful symbol of solidarity and defiance, and it serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality. The gesture made by Smith and Carlos at the 1968 Olympic Games will always be remembered as a defining moment in the history of the Black Power movement and the fight for civil rights.