Fists Raised to Heaven

On the evening of October 16, 1968, the Mexico City Olympic stadium fell into a stunned hush. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, American sprinters who had just claimed gold and bronze in the 200-meter dash, stood on the medal podium as "The Star-Spangled Banner" began to play. Then, in a gesture the world would never forget, each man bowed his head and raised a black-gloved fist toward the sky — Smith his right, Carlos his left.…