Postcard - Black Power at 1968 Olympics

Text: "Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ Black Power/human rights salute at the 1968 Olympics instantly became an international front-page story and an iconic image. Their action has inspired thousands of other athletes to protest racism and injustice." Their action has increasing resonance today with athletes of all stripes taking a knee or otherwise bring important social and political issues into sports. Pictured in the background from bottom left: Colin Kapernick and Eric Reid taking a knee for Black Lives Matter (2016), St. Louis Rams' players hands up in solidarity with Ferguson (2014), Muhammad Ali - Viet Nam era draft resister, Minnesota Lynx WNBA players support anti-racist protests (2016), Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul Jabbar) at a news conference of Black athletes support Muhammad Ali's war resistance (1967), LeBron James wearing shirt in solidarity with murdered Eric Garner (2014), Feyisa Lilesa Oromo sprinter from Ethiopia protests Ethiopian repression (2016), Carlos Delgado refused to stand for the singing of "God Bless America," in protest of the Iraq War (2004), Steve Nash and fellow Phoenix Suns players wore "Los Suns" jerseys to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and protest Arizona's anti-immigrant legislation (2010), Nottingham high school football players Marcus Derby, James Williams and Quentin Lawrence take a knee to protest racism (2016), Andrew Hawkins of the Cleveland Browns calls for justice for the police killing of 12 year-old Tamir Rice (2014), Participants in news conference in support of Muhammad Ali: Jim Brown, Bill Russell, (above) Carl Stokes, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis and Jim Shorter (1967), Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in previously segregated Major League Baseball (1947).