JUNE 5, 2014 — This day in Black History gave the world some real historical moments when Sprinters “Tommie Smith” and “John Carlos” who stood on the Olympic Winners Stand and both raised a clenched fist. It didn’t actually happen on this day, but what the world probably didn’t know is that they both were born on this day!
Tommie Smith born June 5, 1944 in Clarksville, Texas; and
John Carlos born one year later – June 5, 1945 in Harlem, New York.
It’s ironic that they were born on the same day and met up at the Olympic Winners Stand to give the world some Black History that we will never forget. Tommie Smith won the Gold Medal and John Carlos standing behind him won the Bronze Medal.
They were suspended from the Mexico City Olympic Games. The two sprinters were told by Douglas F. Roby, the president of the committee, that they must leave the Olympic Village. Their credentials also were taken away, which made it mandatory for them to leave Mexico within 48 hours.
