Join former Olympian and civil rights icon John Carlos as he and renowned sportswriter/author Dave Zirin take center stage at Anne Arundel Community College to discuss “The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed The World.”
The men will discuss the impact of Carlos’ symbolic Black Power gesture (shared by fellow African American Olympian Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics) on both the American civil rights movement and Carlos’ life during a presentation and booksigning Thursday, Oct. 6, at AACC. The free 6 p.m. presentation takes place in the Robert E. Kauffman Theater on the Arnold campus at 101 College Parkway.
Meet Carlos and Zirin in person following their talk at a booksigning for their newly published book, “The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed The World.” Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing with some of the proceeds benefiting the AACC Student Life office’s event fund.
The story they will retell is epic to civil rights activists and sports fans and illuminating to the youth of today. While the world watched the Mexico City Olympics in 1968, Carlos and Smith took the winners’ podium after the 200-meter race and defied authority by raising their fists in a historic Black Power salute. Their salute and resulting decision by Olympic officials to strip them of their medals focused attention worldwide on the American civil rights movement.
Carlos tied the world record in the 100-yard dash and beat the 200 meter world record, an achievement that was never ratified. He played professional football in the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles and Canadian Football League, founded the Olympic Project for Human Rights and worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee on the 1984 Summer Olympics. Inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2003, he has worked as a track coach and counselor with troubled teens at Palm Springs High School in California.
Hear about his struggles growing up in Malcolm X’s Harlem, the path leading to the Olympics and why he decided to sacrifice his Olympic medal to help the civil rights movement and draw attention to world poverty. Learn about the recognitions he has received in recent years: Carlos and Smith in 2008 received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage and in 2005 saw the dedication of a statue at their alma mater, San Jose State University, portraying them with fists upraised on that historic day.
Author Dave Zirin has followed Carlos’ career through the years while written three books: “Bad Sports,” “A People’s History of Sports in the United States” and “What’s My Name, Fool?” before collaborating with Carlos to pen “The John Carlos Story.” Zirin writes a weekly online sports column “The Edge of Sports” and is a regular contributor to SportsIllustrated.com, the online publication SLAM, the Los Angeles Times and the Nation, where he is the publication’s first sports editor.
This event is sponsored by the AACC Student Life office and AACC Psychology Department. For information, call AACC at 410-777-2043.
