Juan Carlos and the 1968 Olympics Protest Essay

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Introduction

John Carlos is a famous athlete who represented the United States during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Although he won a bronze medal, he is mostly remembered for raising a Human Rights Salute while listening to the U.S. national anthem on the winners’ podium. The demonstration, in which Carlos participated together with the gold medalist Tommie Smith, raised a controversial response in the media. The present essay will aim to review Carlos’ background, the context of the event, and its consequences in order to explain why the political gesture was worth the risk.

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Main body

Throughout his life, John Carlos experienced the oppression of black people in the United States. As noted by Carlos in an interview, black poverty was one of the key issues that he had witnessed while living in and traveling across the United States (Brown). Indeed, socioeconomic disadvantages disproportionately affect black populations living in America. Black people experience lower-income, decreased educational attainment, and fewer career progression opportunities than white Americans, which leads to income gaps and poverty (Croll 47-48). The human rights movements in the United States called for action on the issue, but it was still prominent in most parts of the country. Upon gaining a place on the Olympics team, Carlos decided to draw the world’s attention to it.

The demonstration was carefully planned to address the key human rights issues faced by the black people of America. Horne and Whannel explain that the athletes took their shoes off to represent poverty and covered the USA badge on their uniform to reflect the shame (202). Besides, the athletes put black gloves on their fists in an allusion to the black power movement in the United States, thus indicating the underlying race issue. By planning the demonstration in advance, the athletes could ensure that the message delivered to the audience was clear and that the world’s attention will now be glued to the American progress with the issue.

The demonstration sparked worldwide discussion, as it was the most obvious political statement in the history of the Olympic games. As noted by Horne and Whannel, various news media from all across the world reported on the demonstration, thus fulfilling the goals set by the athletes (202). Nevertheless, back at home, the athletes were subject to widespread criticism, which affected their further life and career. With the decision to carry out their plan, Carlos and Smith lost their place on the U.S. team. The demonstration was an obvious risk for both men, but it was also a risk worth taken, as it showed athletes from all across the world that they can and should use their voices to draw attention to human rights issues prominent in their countries.

The demonstration resonated with society, and the 2017 NFL protests are widely seen as the direct consequence of it. The salute by Carlos and Smith was not just a political demonstration, but a revolution in the history of the sport. Sports in general and the Olympic games, in particular, are widely thought to be a politics-free zone. There are distinctive rules of the Olympics that prohibit political statements during the game. Carlos broke the rules, inspiring many other athletes to use their voices for speaking up about important issues. For instance, in 2017, NFL athletes protested racial inequality in America by “taking a knee” during the national anthem.

Conclusion

Overall, by taking part in the demonstration, Carlos agreed to risk his career and future life in America. However, the athletes’ careful planning of the event, as well as the response to it, made sure that the action was worth the risk. Carlos inspired athletes to participate in political issues, thus drawing attention to critical social problems and influencing society.

Works Cited

Brown, DeNeen L. “They Didn’t #TakeTheKnee: The Black Power Protest Salute that Shook the World in 1968.” The Washington Post. 2017, Web.

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Croll, Paul R. “Explanations for Racial Disadvantage and Racial Advantage: Beliefs about both Sides of Inequality in America.” Ethnic and Racial Studies, vol. 36, no. 1, 2013, pp. 47-74.

Whannel, Garry, and John Horne. Understanding the Olympics. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2016.

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IvyPanda. (2021) 'Juan Carlos and the 1968 Olympics Protest'. 19 June.

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IvyPanda. 2021. "Juan Carlos and the 1968 Olympics Protest." June 19, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juan-carlos-and-the-1968-olympics-protest/.

1. IvyPanda. "Juan Carlos and the 1968 Olympics Protest." June 19, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juan-carlos-and-the-1968-olympics-protest/.


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IvyPanda. "Juan Carlos and the 1968 Olympics Protest." June 19, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juan-carlos-and-the-1968-olympics-protest/.

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