A track, that's where Tommie Smith's career seems to begin, but his life started somewhere much smaller. Tommie Smith, parents of Richard and Dora Smith, was born on June 6, 1944, in Clarksville, Texas (Britannica). Smith’s family moved to California during his youth, his father got a job as a sharecropper and Tommie would pick a variety of crops at neighboring farms for a little extra money (Britannica Students). As Tommie got older he attended Lemoore High School, during high school he joined the football, basketball, and track team (Britannica Students).
After high school Tommie received an athletic scholarship to San Jose State College in 1963 (Britannica Students). While in college Smith set many world records for the straight and curved 200 meter dash, the straight 220 yard dash, the 400 meter race, and the 440 yard sprint (Britannica Students).
After winning many races, Tommie was eligible to compete in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City (Britannica). Tommie won the 200 meter race and set a world record for 19.83 seconds (Britannica). While receiving their awards Smith and Carlos (the 3rd place winner) wore black scarfs and beaded necklaces to represent black pride and to accommodate black people getting killed by lynching (Bradley). They wore black gloves -…show more content… Two days after the games both athletes were suspended from the U.S team and sent back home (BBC). Days later Smith and Carlos were permanently banned from competing in any future Olympic games (Britannica Students). Years later, in 2008, Smith and Carlos were awarded with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award which is awarded to those who contribute to transcend sports for the rights of equality. “Their powerful silent protest in the 1968 games was controversial, but it woke folks up and created greater opportunity for those that followed.” Barack Obama
