Tommie Smith and John Carlos

San Jose State University has honored two San Jose State student athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who are also Olympic winners from the 1968 Summer Olympics who stood for justice, dignity, equality and peace.

It was on October 16^th, 1968 when Smith set the world record for the 200-meter race, winning the gold medal and John Carlos followed behind in third, winning the bronze medal.

Smith and Carlos went to claim their prize while barefoot, representing black poverty, and Olympic Project for Human Rights badges.

Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride and Carlos wore beads, which represented those who were wrongfully killed without a prayer or honor.

The statue is located on the north side of campus between Clark Hall and Dwight Bentel Hall.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos stand about 15 feet tall on a three-foot podium.

Approaching the statue, the hexagon, blue, ceramic, mosaic tiles makes up most of the status with the occasional rectangular and square tiles while their heads and arms are made out of bronze.

The arms and feet felt and sounded more solid than the shoes that sat on the podium, which seemed to be just hallow metal.

The statue has used the image of the athletes with their fists in the air, which represents a human rights salutes, not a black power salute as many people assumed.

Each athlete is only wearing one glove in the statue because Carlos had forgotten his black gloves, so they split the gloves and each wore one.

Last but not least, the second place podium stays empty, however it says, “ Fellow athletes, Australian Peter Norman stood here in solidarity. Take a stand.”

Now, go over to the statue, take position on the second place podium and take a stand for human rights.