Tommie smith autobiography definition

Silent Gesture: The Autobiography of Tommie Smith by Tommie Smith, with David Steele (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2007), 267 pp.

Reviewed by Robert K. Barney, The University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.

Arguably the most famous and enduring picture in the photographic record of the now more than 100 years of Olympic history is that storied 16 October 1968 shot of Tommie Smith, Peter Norman, and John Carlos arranged in the gold, silver, and bronze medal positions, respectively, on the 200 meters victory podium at the Mexico City Olympic Games.

The photograph, reflecting Norman standing at attention, and Smith and Carlos with heads bowed and black glove-clad fists (Smith's right, and Carlos's left) thrust aloft in the night sky, constantly appears and reappears, year after year, decade after decade, whenever the subjects of race, politics, crises, and climactic events