Today’s story unfolds at the intersection of art, sports, and activism.
In 1968, Black American athlete Tommie Smith set a new world record. He became a gold medalist when he raced to win the 200-meter event at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Yet Tommie Smith was only inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019. Why did it take half a century for the international sports organization to recognize his record-breaking performance?
Because in 1968, at the height of the civil rights struggle in America, Tommie Smith took a stand on racism and human rights at the awards ceremony in Mexico City. As he stood on the podium to accept his medal, he bowed his head and raised his fist in a silent salute. That year, the Olympics were broadcast on television live and in color for the first time ever. The whole world witnessed his gesture.
Tommie Smith’s respectful protest marked his life in the years that followed, while motivating generations to stand up for equality. He continues to inspire us, encouraging everyone to take part in the ongoing quest for global human rights and racial justice.
In this episode, you’ll hear from the athlete and two creatives he inspired: Japanese-American artist Glenn Kaino and Iranian-born cinematographer Afshin Shahidi. They came together to create an exhibition, public programs and a documentary film to tell Tommie Smith’s story.
When artist Glenn Kaino sought out the legendary Olympic runner as a creative collaborator, he recognized the enduring value of art as a means to preserve a noble act. With Drawn Arms amplifies Smith’s courage, bringing history to reckon with our contemporary moment.
Related Episodes:
Black in America https://freshartinternational.com/2018/09/03/black-in-america/
Franklin Sirmans on the Art of Futbol https://freshartinternational.com/2018/04/16/franklin-sirmans-on-the-art-of-futbol/
Athi-Patra Ruga on Global Human Rights https://freshartinternational.com/2016/03/24/fresh-talk-athi-patra-ruga/
Related Links:
Tommie Smith https://www.tommiesmith.com/
Glenn Kaino http://glennkainostudio.com
Afshin Shahidi https://www.afshinshahidi.com/
Mexico 1968 Summer Olympics https://www.olympic.org/mexico-1968
Olympic Project for Human Rights https://www.sjsuwordstoaction.com/sjsu-legacy/
High Museum of Art https://high.org/exhibition/with-drawn-arms-glenn-kaino-tommie-smith/
San José Museum of Art https://sjmusart.org/exhibition/drawn-arms-glenn-kaino-and-tommie-smith
Colin Kaepernick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Kaepernick
Kavi Gupta Gallery http://kavigupta.com
Fresh Art International at Untitled Art Fair https://freshartinternational.com/2017/11/25/live-untitled-radio-miami-beach-2017/
Watch the Film:
With Drawn Arms https://www.starz.com/us/en/movies/with-drawn-arms-61820
