Racism at the Olympics Homework

Racial Discrimination at the Olympics

Many of us know that before the 1950’s and 1960’s, that black and white people were not treated as equals. They couldn’t use the same: toilets, restaurants, water fountains, or even sit in the same area in a bus. The white people had to sit at the front, and the black people had to sit in the back. Different countries of the world had different opinions on racial discrimination, but with so many countries participating in the Olympics, there was bound to be some clashes.

An example of racial superiority was back in 1936 at the summer Olympics. They were held in Berlin Germany. Germany was determined to outdo the last Olympics in Los Angeles, U.S.A, by building: a 100,000 seat track and field stadium, six gymnasiums, and installing a closed circuit television system and Radio network that reached forty one countries. The Olympics were lead by the head of state at the time, Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler was known to preach that the Aryan race (white people) were superior to other races.  Instead of seeing this as a time to bring people together, he used the games to promote racial discrimination. This is what he wrote in the official Nazi Party Paper:  “Jews and Black people should not be allowed to participate in the Games.”  After many nations threatened boycott, he eventually let Jews and Blacks take part.

Two black medal winning American athletes actually used the Olympics to protest against racial discrimination. The pair, Tommie Smith (Gold medallist) and John Carlos (Bronze medallist) both took part in the 200m sprints. As the American national anthem played they both stood with their heads bowed and held their hands up, showing that they wore a black glove on their hand. The both wore black socks and no shoes and Tommie Smith also wore a black scarf. They did this to state that they were proud of being Black and to show their support of Human rights for everyone. I agree with their form of protest it is peaceful and the world could see that they were trying to impact on racial discrimination. As they left the stadium many booed them believing that Politics should not be brought into the Olympics. But was it really just Politics? They said: “Black America will understand.” That very evening Australian white silver medallist in the same event, Peter Norman wore a badge in support of the pair’s protest. Two days later the two athletes were suspended from their national team, expelled from the Olympic village and sent home. Upon their arrival home the pair was welcomed as heroes by the African American Community, but consequently for their actions, both received death threats.

I personally thought that there would be more problems with racial discrimination at the Olympics. The Olympics are an International Event, and all races have the right to compete. I cannot find any information on people not being able to compete due to their skin colour. Many countries have used the Olympics to try and get their political racial messages out to the world, although this may come with consequences.  In the case of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, they lost their right to compete in future games, and Adolf Hittler had the threat of boycott of the games to deal with for his beliefs.  

Everyone has different views and beliefs on racial discrimination. Our skin may be different colours, but does that really define a person? It is what is on the inside that counts.

By Jack Wellwood