Statue

Tommie Smith and John Carlos won Gold and Bronze in the 200 meter track run at the Olympics of 1968, Mexico City. (RoadsideAmerica, Olympic Black Power Statue) At the medal stand, as the national anthem played, they both raised their fists and bowed their heads for respect of black power. This is a gesture associated with the Black Panthers Party, who were a band of armed citizens that monitored the behavior of police officers for police brutality in Oakland, California. Smith and Carlos wanted to advocate for African American rights because of racism and segregation, which led to unfair rights. The audience did not approve of their actions; they were striped of their medals.

African American rights play a big role in our history; over time, this matter was looked upon and re evaluated. People began to take notice and stand up for the injustice of unfair treatment. According to RoadsideAmerica, in 2005, San Jose State University dedicated a 23 feet statue of Smith and Carlos, to remind us of that moment when they were up on the medalist podium. The statue consist of just Smith and Carlos, but not the Silver medalist because he was irrelevant to the movement. The statue is a dirty brass color, with colored glass sharps that make up the medalists clothing, and detailed expressions. This statue represents a lot of history and is a tourist attraction at the university.

I chose to write about this statue on campus because I believe it captures a big moment in history. Equal human rights is still an big issue in our society, but we have come a long way. I believe this statue represents how long our country is progressed.

"Olympic Black Power Statue." RoadsideAmerica. Web. <http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/12702>.