US honour for raised-fist black Olympians

TOMMIE Smith and John Carlos, the two African-American athletes sent home from the 1968 Olympic Games for their raised-fist protest on the medal podium, will receive a long-awaited moment of redemption at a US team event at the White House this week.

The two were invited by the US Olympic Committee to attend a gala dinner in Washington tomorrow, honouring the 2016 Olympic team and accompany the team to meet President Barack Obama at the White House the following day, Carlos said.

The image of Smith and Carlos, gold and bronze medallists in the 200m track event in Mexico City, thrusting their black-gloved fists into the air, has become an enduring symbol of the fight for racial equality.

Their example has surfaced repeatedly in past weeks as an inspiration to African-American National Football League and college players protesting against racial injustice after the fatal shootings of several black men by police.

Smith and Carlos paid a high price for their protest, not only with the Olympic Committee, but also in the court of public opinion.

“It was against the charter of the Olympic Committee to make a political statement at the victory podium,” Carlos said. “But we felt it was the only place we could make the statement at that time.” – Reuters