by Tommie Smith
First published 2022
Young Tommie Smith grows up in rural Texas, discovering his gift for running while navigating the challenges of being Black in America. His speed carries him from small-town tracks to college athletics and finally to the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he wins gold in the 200-meter sprint. But Smith faces his biggest test not on the track but on the medal podium. Standing in black socks with a black-gloved fist raised high, he and bronze medalist John Carlos protest racial injustice against African Americans. The gesture costs both athletes dearly. Olympic officials force them to leave the Games immediately. Death threats pour in. Their careers suffer, and economic hardship follows. Smith tells his own story in this memoir, tracing how a boy from Texas became willing to sacrifice everything for a moment of silent protest that spoke louder than words.
Genres: 20th-century, american, african-american, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: sacrifice, social-justice
Setting: Mexico City, Texas
Period: 1968
208 pages · Paperback · Norton Young Readers
Content warnings: racism