Black power salute changed nation
http://www.triangletribun...=1715&category=Sports
Published Wednesday, February 4, 2009
by Bonitta Best
John Carlos has come full circle.
In 1968, a young Carlos and teammate Tommy Smith electrified and stunned a nation at the Summer Olympics. Protesting against racial injustice and showing solidarity for all blue-collar workers in the United States, Carlos and Smith raised black-gloved fists as a symbol of black power as they stood on the podium after receiving their bronze and gold medals, respectively, in the 200-meter dash.
It was a heroic and courageous gesture in a time when civil unrest threatened to tear the country apart. In return for their bravery, Carlos and Smith were barred from the Olympic Village and called every name imaginable. Their families even received death threats.
But Carlos isn't interested in reliving the past. At St. Augustine's 2009 Sapphire Gala last weekend, he politely turned down a photographer's request to pose with his fist raised. That was then and this is now. And although racial justice in this country still has a long way to go, Carlos said the election of President Barack Obama signals a new era in America.
Forty-one years later, Carlos, who was honored with the Heritage Award, is a humble as ever. "There are individuals more deserving, like those that worked 9/11," the national track and field hall of famer said. "They were the ones dealing with adversity. My life has been God's calling, it's what I do."
Today's players could learn a lot from Carlos about what it means to risk sacrificing all for the good of others.
Cary snags black swim meet
As quiet as it's kept - in some circles anyway - blacks do swim. Washington, D.C., and Atlanta have held established minority meets for over 20 years.
Two years ago, I wrote a column about the National Black Heritage Championship Swim Meet, a national meet comprised of 600-plus predominately black swimmers from across the country. The meet was formed by black parents of the N.C. Aquablazers Swim Team to expose their swimmers to other minority competitors.
After hosting swim meets in Charlotte, Goldsboro and Orlando, Fla., Triangle fans are in for a special treat. The Black Heritage Championship will be held May 23-24 at the Triangle Aquatic Center. It's poetic that the event will be held there since the TAC recently partnered with USA Swimming's Make A Splash Program to reduce drowning deaths by minorities.
Blacks and Hispanics are three times more likely to drown than whites. Through the program, the TAC is able to offer free or reduced swimming lessons to eligible children. Other fun events that weekend will include the appearance of Maritza Corriea, the first black woman to win an Olympic medal in swimming. Corriea will hold swimming clinics and cheer on the swimmers.
For parents, however, there's no reason to wait until May. Swim classes for minority children ages 5-18 are forming now. Contact Doracy Harrison at 459-4045. And don't forget to book Memorial Day weekend on your schedule. (You know you're too broke to travel anyway.)
Oops!
In last week's column, Adrienne Massey's name was misspelled.
