John Carlos to deliver this year's Annual Sport Journalism Lecture
Published 2 March 2012
Chelsea School of Sport has pulled off a major coup by signing up John Carlos, one of the most iconic Olympians, to deliver this year’s Annual Sport Journalism Lecture and attend the Student Exhibition.
On 16 October 1968, Carlos and his fellow American sprinter Tommie Smith used the Olympic 200m medal ceremony in Mexico City to make an important and indelible statement about racism. Their so-called “Black Power” salute – black gloves, black socks, Smith’s black scarf – was instantly enshrined as the moment the pretence belatedly ended; the pretence that politics had nothing whatsoever to do with sport.
It also proved a highpoint for the Civil Rights movement: Carlos and Smith, bronze medallist and gold respectively, had brought the poverty of black Americans to the world’s attention. Hailed as heroes beyond the States, their immediate reward was to be sent home by Avery Brundage, president of the IOC and the man who delighted Adolf Hitler by ensuring an American presence at the 1936 Berlin Games. Once back, they received a succession of death threats.
Shortly before last Christmas, Dave Zirin, the campaigning American sportswriter whose biography of Carlos, The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World, was published by Haymarket last year, emailed Rob Steen, senior lecturer in sports journalism at Chelsea School of Sport. He wanted to bring Carlos over to England in Olympic year, but needed funding. The school agreed to fly the pair over for the Annual Sports Journalism Lecture and the Student Exhibition, both on May 16.
16 October 1968, John Carlos and Tommie Smith used the Olympic 200m medal ceremony in Mexico City to make an important and indelible statement about racism. Their so-called “Black Power” salute.
“Just about everyone here is acutely aware of John’s significance, especially in Olympic year,” says Rob. “He is the sort of sportsman we think our students should look up to, as an example of what sport can achieve in, and for, the wider world.
“Short of getting Muhammad Ali or bringing Jackie Robinson or Basil D’Oliveira back to life, it’s hard to think of anyone better to deliver the Annual Sport Journalism Lecture or attend the Student Exhibition. It will be a proud moment when he does, not to mention a humbling and, for some, probably quite emotional one.”
