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Sports, Protest, and Civil Rights: John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics

Description

What controversy arose around this image from the 1968 Olympics? In this episode of BRIdge from the Past, Mary explores the image of John Carlos and Tommie Smith and the statement they made during the Mexico City Olympics. What historical events occurred around this time that led to their protest? What lessons can we learn about protests today from examining this image?

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Published On	Feb 25, 2022
Duration	11 min
Founding Principle	Freedom of Speech
Grade Level	6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Period Era	1960s
Topic	African American History

Related Resources

BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History Video Playlist

BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History is a new YouTube series for students that explores an important historic image every episode to gain insights into the culture, politics, and society of a particular time in U.S. history. Host Mary Patterson will explain how each primary source is its own “window to the past,” revealing new areas for contemplation and discussion.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics, October 17, 1968

Voices of Protest: The Civil Rights Movement

What claims about freedom were made in the 1960s? How did Founding principles become a reality for African Americans during this time? This playlist is a sub-set of primary sources that appear in Plainest Demands of Justice: Documents for Dialogue on the African-American Experience.

Handout B: What Do I Believe About the Freedom of Expression?