Athletes Commonly Use Their Status to Promote Awareness
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has caught serious flak for not standing during the national anthem. However, he is far from the first athlete to use his platform to promote causes in which he believes. These are the top five most controversial demonstrations by athletes.
1. Tommie Smith and John Carlos, 1968 Olympics
During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City games, American Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos came in first and third in the 200 meters race, respectively. However, they immortalized themselves when during the medal ceremony, as the Star Spangled Banner played, they each put on one black glove and raised one hand to protest some of the racial injustices committed in their home country. This came six months after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Both were suspended from the U.S. Olympic team.
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