October 16, 1968 Tommie Smith, Peter Norman and John Carlos won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals respectively in the 200m dash at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. During the medal ceremony, they all wore OPHR pins. Smith and Carlos, students at San Jose State University studying under now legendary sociologist Dr. Harry Edwards, wore Black Gloves and no shoes on the podium. Carlos also had his jacket unzipped to show solidarity with Blue Collar workers and wore a necklace of beads which he described "were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed and that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the Middle Passage." During the national anthem, they bowed their heads, raising their fists in the air in protest to the struggles of African Americans in the USA. the crowd booed, the IOC demanded that the US team suspend Smith and Carlos. When the US team refused, the IOC then threatened to ban the entire US track team. as a result, Smith and Carlos were expelled from the Olympic Games. the backlash at home was serious, neither could find work and they received death threats daily. San Jose State fired Harry Edwards and closed the doors to its Track and Field program, one of the most successful in collegiate athletics. 50 years later the world has changed their view on the brave act of Smith and Carlos. I saluted them alongside Dr. Harry Edwards (voice featured on track) on my tune Speed City from the #sanjosesuite #knowthehistory #history #music #activism #socialcinsciousness photos by @marianunesphotography collage by @directorvaughn music from my San Jose Suite Album (at San Jose State University) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpAAPMhnQZI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kss3tjl17cta