First, a little backstory:
Black Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos won 1st and 3rd place respectively for the 200m race in the '68 Summer Olympics held in Mexico. Standing on the rostrum, with their country's anthem playing, they raised their clenched fists up in the air, an action which is known as the Black Power salute. They were booed by the crowd and was condemned by the International Olympic Committee, because they were making a political statement at an (supposed to be) apolitical event. The very same event that had the home crowd performing the Third Reich Salute at their ruler, Hitler, in Berlin 30 years before.
This is the world-famous photograph that was splashed across newspapers around the world. Outrage, empowerment, inspiration and disgust were probably the different emotions felt by the public then.
More than 40 years later, the first black president of the United States of America had his inauguration ceremony with a turnout so huge, satellite photos of Washington DC had the entire stretch in front of the Capitol Building clotted with gigantic clouds of people eager to witness history in their lifetimes.
President Obama's inauguration speech, not as flowery as the one he made in Chicago during his acceptance, highlighted the great challenges, domestic and foreign that the country has to face in the months and years ahead of them. He assured the people that they will overcome, but only if they work towards it. Despite the grim outlook of the future, the people in Washington DC cheered, for they were experiencing the change and hope that Obama's entire election campaign was based on.
John Carlos and Tommie Smith?
They were watching.
40 years after their silent protest at the 1968 Olympics, Gold Medalist Tommie Smith hugs Bronze Medalist John Carlos, and their wives Delois Smith and Charlene Carlos after Barack Obama is officially sworn in as the President of the United States. Photo taken in the Smith room at the Sheraton Boston in Boston, MA. (Boston Globe/Stan Grossfeld)
