“In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist.” —Angela Davis

58 years ago today, Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed the Black Power salute at the Olympics that outraged millions of white Americans. It was an act of protest by the U.S. athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos during their medal ceremony at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City. As they turned to face their flags and hear the American national anthem (The Star-Spangled Banner), they each raised a Black-gloved fist and kept them raised until the anthem had finished. Smith, Carlos and Australian silver medalist Peter Norman all wore human rights badges on their jackets. The event is regarded as one of the most overtly political statements in the history of the modern Olympic Games. Both athletes were kicked off the US team for their protest.