On the Olympic medal stand in Mexico City, sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise black-gloved fists during the U.S. anthem.
At a Glance
- Date
- 16 October 1968
- Location
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Key people
- Tommie Smith, John Carlos
- Category
- Sports
- Source
- 1968 Olympic Games records · Smithsonian NMAAHC
What It Meant Then
Their silent protest against racism made them targets of immediate expulsion and lasting controversy.
What It Means Now
The image is one of the most enduring symbols of athlete activism.
Also on 16 October
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Tommie Smith and John Carlos Raise Their Fists.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/tommie-smith-and-john-carlos-raise-their-fists/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Tommie Smith and John Carlos Raise Their Fists. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/tommie-smith-and-john-carlos-raise-their-fists/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Tommie Smith and John Carlos Raise Their Fists.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/tommie-smith-and-john-carlos-raise-their-fists/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.