Tommie Smith

Tommie Smith. An American former track and field athlete and Olympic gold medalist, he is immortalized for his iconic protest on the victory podium at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. A world-record-setting sprinter from San Jose State University, his career was defined by both athletic excellence and courageous activism during the Civil Rights Movement. Following his athletic career, he worked as a teacher and coach, and his legacy as a symbol of protest and human rights continues to be honored globally.

Early life and education

Tommie Smith was born in Clarksville, Texas, and grew up working as a sharecropper in a large, impoverished family before moving to Lemoore, California. His exceptional speed was evident in high school, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track at Lemoore High School. He received an athletic scholarship to attend San Jose State University, where he was coached by the legendary Lloyd "Bud" Winter and became a central figure in the university's renowned sprint program. At San Jose State University, he also joined the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and became involved with the Olympic Project for Human Rights, a movement founded by sociologist Harry Edwards to protest racial segregation in sports.

Athletic career

Smith specialized in the 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash, dominating collegiate and national competitions. While at San Jose State University, he set numerous world records, including a then-world record of 20.0 seconds for the 200-meter straightaway in 1966. He won the AAU national title in the 220-yard dash in 1967 and was a consistent force in the NCAA championships. His rivalry with teammate John Carlos and other sprinters like Jim Hines pushed the boundaries of the sport. Prior to the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith set a world record in the 200 meters at the Olympic Trials held at Echo Summit, solidifying his status as the favorite for gold in Mexico City.

1968 Olympics and Black Power salute

At the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith won the gold medal in the 200-meter final, setting a world record time of 19.83 seconds, with teammate John Carlos taking the bronze. During the medal ceremony, as the American national anthem played, Smith and Carlos performed a silent protest: they bowed their heads and raised a single, black-gloved fist, a symbol of the Black Power movement and the struggle for human rights. Smith raised his right fist for black power, while Carlos raised his left for black unity. They wore black socks without shoes to represent black poverty and OPHR badges. The action, supported by silver medalist Peter Norman of Australia, provoked immediate controversy, leading to the athletes' expulsion from the Olympic Village by the International Olympic Committee under pressure from Avery Brundage.

Later life and legacy

After the 1968 Summer Olympics, Smith faced significant backlash, receiving death threats and struggling to find employment, though he briefly played professional football for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League. He later completed his master's degree and embarked on a long career as a sociology teacher and track coach at Santa Monica College and Oberlin College. His protest has been re-evaluated over time, and he is now widely celebrated as a civil rights icon. Smith's story is featured in museums like the National Museum of African American History and Culture and was depicted in the film *Salute*. He remains a sought-after speaker on issues of equality and justice.

Awards and honors

Smith's awards include his Olympic gold medal and induction into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1978. San Jose State University erected a statue commemorating the 1968 protest on its campus, and he received an honorary doctorate from the California State University, Fresno. In 1999, he was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee posthumously honored him and John Carlos with the USOPC Hall of Fame award in 2019, and the Smithsonian Institution houses the gloves from his protest.

Category:American track and field athletes Category:1944 births Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field Category:Civil rights activists