History Of Athletes Involved In Political Activism

John Carlos and Tommie Smith

During the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, U.S. athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith protested the national anthem. Much like athletes across all sports today, they did it as a disapproval of racial injustices in America. Their decision costs them their medals and Olympic careers. The over 50-year-old photo above is still as relevant as it ever was. Some players even still use this as their form of political expression.