“Black Power Salute” commemorates the moment during the 1968 Olympics, in which African-Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos exultantly gestured skyward, effectively leveling the playing field for civil rights. During the Mexico City games, Smith won the 200-meter race, setting a world record, and Carlos placed third. On the podium, they made a statement for equality by wearing symbolic attire and raising black-gloved fists during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The backlash was immediate and vicious—Smith and Carlos were expelled from the U.S. Olympic team, and even received death threats. This powerful image endured, becoming symbolic of African-American athletes’ quest for equality.

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