Silent Gesture: The Autobiography of Tommie Smith by Tommie Smith, David Steele (With)

Todd Spires - Library Journal

Although this book, written with the help of Baltimore Suncolumnist Steele, may go down as an important entry in the history of track and field and African American studies, it is not without its problems. Smith and his San Jose State University classmate John Carlos were the two men who raised their black-gloved fists on the winner's podium at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City (Smith and Carlos won first and third place, respectively, in the 200-meter dash). The events and the reasoning that led to this famous "gesture" are discussed, as are its long-lasting effects on Smith's life. The fallout from the publicity, along with the hate speak that has daunted him ever since, has made Smith a bitter man. He vents his spleen on many people who passed through his life, including Ronald Reagan, Jim Brown, Jesse Owens, his ex-wife, and his ex-teammate Carlos. He refutes Carlos's description (in his Why?: The Biography of John Carlos) of his (Smith's) role in the events at Mexico City. The result is that the reader may forget Smith's many accomplishments in education and coaching because of the anger expressed on almost every page. Still, an essential purchase for public and university libraries with extensive collections in track and field history.

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Table of Contents