John Carlos, 1968 Olympic U.S. Medalist, on the Sports Moment That Changed the World

Almost half a century after his famous raised-fist salute at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, John Carlos has authored a new memoir with sports writer Dave Zirin, "The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World." Olympic medal winners in the 200 meter race, John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists in the Black Power salute during the national anthem at the Olympic prize ceremony as a protest against racism in the United States. Seen around the world, the Black Power salute on the Olympic medal stand sparked controversy and an eventual career fallout. "I wasn't in there for the race, I was there to make a statement," Carlos told Democracy Now! in an interview Oct. 12 with Dave Zirin. "I was ashamed of America for America's deeds -- what they were doing in history as well as what they were doing at that time."

www.democracynow.org
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