Silent Gesture: The Autobiography of Tommie Smith (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781592136391)

n 1968, Tommie Smith and his teammate John Carlos won the gold and silver medals, respectively, for the 200 meter dash.a Receiving their medals on the dais, they raised their fists and froze a moment in time that will forever be remembered as a powerful day of protest.a In this, his autobiography, Smith tells the story of that moment, and of his life before and after it, to explain what that moment meant to him.a

In "Silent Gesture," Smith recounts his life before and after the 1968 Olympics: his life-long commitment to athletics, education, and human rights.a He dispels some of the myths surrounding his and Carlos' act on the dais -- contrary to legend, Smith wasn't a member of the Black Panthers, but a member of the US Olympic Project for Human Rights -- and describes in detail the planning and risks involved in his protest.a Smith also details his many years after Mexico City of devotion to human rights, athletics, and education.a A unique resource for anyone concerned with international sports, history, and the African American experience, "Silent Gesture" contributes a complete picture of one of the most famous moments in sports history, and of a man whose actions always matched his words."

Author: Tommie Smith, David Steele
ISBN-10: 1592136397
ISBN-13: 9781592136391
Publisher: Temple University Press
Language: English
Published: 02/15/2007
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.22h x 6.36w x 0.95d
Award: Black Caucus of the American Library Association Literary_award - Honor Book

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 02/01/2007 pg. 28
Library Journal 03/01/2007 pg. 90