The 1968 Olympic Black Power salute was one of the most important moments for American sports and for Civil Rights. African Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a black power salute after completing their race. This took place during the medal ceremony. They acted against racial discrimination and racial inequality that took place in the United States at the time. They had a large impact on both society in everyday life and sports. 

This activism event was significant at the time and news outlets were able to showcase it in a time before social media. Newspaper and television outlets were able to show the average person what was going on in Mexico City. Many outlets thought the actions were disrespectful and did not support the athletes, while some encouraged this behavior and thought they were highlighting the racial inequalities that existed. Every media outlet had their own opinion of what they thought about the stand against racism. 

Social media did not exist at the time, so the events that took place were discussed in other ways. Things such as the newspaper, television, word of mouth, and more impacted how society learned and discussed the events. Many wrote articles and organized rallies to show their support of the athletes. 

Both of the athletes/activists made an impact not only on activism in the United States, but the world. The Olympics are a global event so the whole world was able to see what both men were raising awareness for. This is an example of athletes and celebrities using their platform for a good cause. 

The narrative in the media regarding the civil rights movement, black power, and overall activism were significant. Many people saw Carlos and Smith as villains and thought of them as unpatriotic. Others saw them as brave because they weren’t afraid to speak up at the world’s biggest stage. Overall, this act helped spark change for racial inequality and injustice at the time. Even though it made some uncomfortable, it helped spark important conversations worldwide.