Tommie Smith and John Carlos

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A black-and-white photograph of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, by Platon. The photograph depicts them standing side-by-side, each with an arm raised in a black power fist. Smith, shown left, and Carlos, shown right, are shown from the thighs up, fully facing the viewer. Carlos is partially behind Smith’s proper left shoulder. Smith’s chin is tilted slightly downwards, and his eyes are closed, while Carlos’ head is raised, and he is looking directly at the viewer. Smith’s proper right arm is raised above his head and his proper right hand, encased in a thick leather glove, is raised into a black power fist above his head. Carlos’ proper left hand, also encased in a thick leather glove, is similarly raised into a black power fist above his head. Smith is wearing a dark tone argyle sweater with a short zipper at the collar and dark tone trousers with thin pinstripes.

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