Editor’s notice: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the creator’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio.
I’d say I grew up in a family intent on ensuring that I, and my siblings, have been conscious of Black historical past. My dad and mom invested in a Black encyclopedia assortment. We had a show model of the Bible with Black Jesus on the duvet. Our home was crammed with books by vaunted Black novelists and thinkers and if there was a documentary about Blackness to be seen, we watched it. I watched the entire made-for-TV motion pictures about Dr. King, each “Roots” and “Alex Haley’s Queen,” and sat by all 14 hours of “Eyes On The Prize”—as a toddler. Bless my coronary heart.
With that stated, there have been pockets of Black historical past, or extra doubtless, specifics that I didn’t get an opportunity to dig into once I was a toddler. Faculty was the place all of that want for info and understanding coalesced. I attended Morehouse Faculty in Atlanta, Ga., one of many premier traditionally Black faculties within the nation. It was there that I met individuals from throughout whose data of Black historical past diversified (usually relying on the faculties and communities we lived in) however who all had a starvation to be taught extra.
In the future, throughout my freshman yr, I keep in mind one in every of my buddies carrying a t-shirt that had a photograph I used to be positive I’d seen earlier than however had by no means paid a lot consideration to. On the shirt was a black-and-white screenprint of (what I do know now as) the long-lasting second on the 1968 Olympics in Mexico Metropolis, the place on the rostrum for the 200M medalists, Tommie Smith, John Carlos (the races 1st and third place finishers) every raised a gloved Black fist whereas the “Star Spangled Banner” performed. Peter Norman, the 2nd place finisher from Australia, wore a human rights badge, as did Smith and Carlos.
Not solely did they elevate a fist for Black energy (although they’d each say it was for human rights), they obtained their medals in black socks to symbolize poverty within the Black group and Smith wore a black scarf for Black pleasure. Carlos confirmed solidarity with blue-collar staff by unzipping his jacket and he wore a beaded necklace for individuals who had been lynched. Due to the state of Black America in 1968 and the continued struggle for equality and civil rights, there had been calls to boycott the video games—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had additionally been killed in April of that yr—and all three athletes have been impressed sufficient to discover a method to do this on the rostrum, resulting in one of the crucial enduring photos of public protest.
I keep in mind studying the historical past of the second and realizing that on the largest stage, these courageous males used their second of triumph and victory to silently protest the circumstances of the underserved, oft-maligned communities in America. I felt empowered; we frequently speak about standing on the shoulders of giants, however the extra I dug into the historical past of Black individuals in America, the extra I spotted simply what number of giants there have been. In faculty, I grew to become very indignant and, for a time, able to burn down any and all the things that represented the institution or any impediment to Black liberation. I felt like all of those individuals who, even in triumph, noticed their house on the planet in connection to individuals who may by no means be capable to communicate, as heroes whose lives have been to be modeled after. Particularly as a result of it was additionally painstakingly apparent that to place your individuals earlier than your self in such a trend can usually come at an incredible private loss.
When Smith and Carlos took their stand, they have been booed within the stadium and ordered to be despatched residence by the Worldwide Olympic Committee. The athletes returned residence however weren’t handled to a hero’s welcome however as a substitute to tough sledding, and even in some circumstances, dying threats. They weren’t beloved by athletes, both. The 2 males, linked eternally in historical past, even have a strained relationship—Carlos even alleges that he let Smith go him within the race as a result of “Tommie Smith would have by no means put his fist within the sky had I received that race,” a declare Smith denies.
Historical past has a method of rightsizing finally, but it surely took a few years and realizations on the social coverage entrance for the actions of these males to be seen as brave and wanted, not simply egocentric and boastful.
The teachings I discovered from faculty and the continued studying and training I gained (my head STAYED in a ebook about Black historical past) was one of many biggest good points of attending an HBCU. The sheer quantity of books I discovered about that I’d by no means heard about in any other case—carried me on by life.
It was additionally why I keep in mind strolling by Washington, D.C.’s Japanese Market at some point and taking place upon a avenue vendor promoting varied photos of moments in Black historical past and he had a 40” x 30” inch framed picture of Tommie Smith and John Carlos’ silent protest. I paid for that in money and lugged it across the nation’s capital till I received residence. I do know this occurred in 2005 (I graduated from Morehouse Faculty in 2001) as a result of I had simply moved into my first condominium with no roommate and it was the very first thing I ever held on my wall. That framed image remains to be hanging on a wall in my residence in 2025 and I’ve used it to show my youngsters about sacrifice and privilege, and the way you should communicate up for individuals who can’t.
The query my youngest youngsters normally ask is “How do I do know who can’t communicate up for themselves?” which is an incredible query. To that, I’ve responded with a easy truth whereas pointing to the image:
“These males made a gesture that gave voice to individuals who most of us, together with them, would by no means see or by no means know however whose lives are negatively impacted day by day by decisions made by the wealthy and the federal government. Typically it’s a must to take the chance it’s a must to say one thing since you don’t know if you happen to’ll ever have as large a platform once more.
Son, there may be ALWAYS anyone who can’t communicate up for themselves, and also you with a voice have to make use of it as a result of possibly the factor you say or the stand you’re taking will assist anyone you don’t know reside a greater life.”
I take advantage of phrases that they’ll perceive a little bit higher, however I can inform you that my youngsters take a look at that image on a regular basis and on one event, one in every of my sons stated, “These guys are heroes, proper?”
To them, I say sure, they’re. They’re heroes of Black Historical past.
They’ll reside eternally for talking, even silently, in solidarity with and for individuals who couldn’t.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Expensive Tradition” on theGrio Black Podcast Community. He writes very Black issues, drinks very brown liquors, and is fairly fly for a light-weight man. His largest accomplishment to this point coincides along with his Blackest accomplishment to this point in that he obtained a cellphone name from Oprah Winfrey after she learn one in every of his items (largest) however he didn’t reply the cellphone as a result of the caller ID stated “Unknown” (Blackest).
