Jamie UK
i think that in one way it was pointless, but another more stronger side of me says that well done to them! i think that maybe they didn't achieve anything from it apart from pride! they done what they did to show the people of the world that the black people back then were not going to be broken by the white people who tried to control them!

Cequence
what is the difference between them raising their fist versus when people take their flags and run around de crowd. Same ting!!! They are just promoting something that is dear and cherish to dem. Just as much as I like my country, I love my color first. Politics had nothing and everything to do with it. Its uncalled for now, but back it 1968, it was nessasary by all means.

Chendo
The Olympics is not the venue for politics. They knew it, and yet they decided to sacrifice their moment of glory for what the believed in. Perhaps they should not be given their medals back because of this violation of the rule, but it was still a valiant gesture that they should be proud of. Much time has past since this incident. As a white American, I can sincerely say that equality is, unfortunately, still a long way off.

NUBIAN KWEEN
i support em coz some of y'all seem not to b proud of wot these bois did. n thank God they did that. its bout time we showed ppl we still together despite tha fact that some people are now in denial of who they are. again WELL DONE TOMMIE N JOHN.

Kristof
Back then it was a powerful and courageous act to do. The black struggle in the US is still ongoing... but you will never see a black athlete take a political stand for one simple reason: now they are part of the multi-billion sports industry. They get a fair piece of the $-cake. Money prevents them from being political.

Benjy19!
These 2 men have shown their pride in themselves and in their beliefs. As a young white lad i've gotta say that i love the black culture! I listen to rap, r'n'b and reggae and i think a lot of black people express their views through their music and they do it so well! So just because these 2 guys have expressed their views visually whats it matter? Just give them their medals back so they can hold up their fists once more!!

Kémi
Nowadays people don't sacrifice for their ideas. For me, Black power means equality, nothing else. When they say that they need the power they mean so they can lead their life like anybody else.

Paul Evans
I feel that Racism is, and will forever be a disease. And as far as "black power" is concerned It's a state of mind. If you're black, and you're doing positive things for yourself and your community, You really don't need a symbol to show your power People see it.

Shawn
To Mark and whomever else. You all say that its so different in the USA, as an American who has lived in England for several years, trust me its no different! I never once been called anything racist in the USA but once I hit England, I was called everything in the racist book. You can all say that it happens "there" and "not here" but your all just not wanting to see that its just the same everywhere! WAKE UP!!!

chantelle
excuse me people; it has nothing to do with the hair. white people still dye their hair to all sorts of colors to look pretty. black power is about solidarity amongst ourselves. we have got to remember how our fathers struggled during slavery; how our mothers were raped and beaten by their white masters; we have got to ensure that their tears and pain was not in vain.

its not about superiority, it's about knowing our past and then knowing how to move on wit our future. and this might be offensive but i do not think black girls believe that white girls are more attractive. pleeeze, we have got beautiful cocoa butter skin and delicious chocolate brown eyes. we are wonderfully made. so people should stop believing black power is physical. it is more spiritual.

it is deep and shaun is right, we may never have a black prime minister but we will have great black achievers and to us it's important because it is despite all odds.

tommy
shaun b - [far below] i am in complete agreement with you that we live in an interesting "equal society". however, i do not think black power is remotely relevant. it is one thing to have pride in your heritage, but quite another to boast it in an extreme and pretty pointless manner. if a white person were to do that, it would be deemed inexcusable and condemned immediately, because separating yourself from other races through gestures like this one is racism - there's no two ways about it.

Chris
Well. How many of you realise that just before those games in 1968, there was a huge protest in Mexico city because of the poverty and social conditions most mexicans had to suffer. Troops and police surrounded them and opened fire killing hundreds. So, in that context the black power case pales into insignificance and these athletes should have realised that the people in that city were far worse off than themselves. Shame on them for that.

Seattle Thought
Reactions to events in time will always plague our history. You can either move on, make reparations or debate the merits continually. They were athletes above all and US athletes, they won medals based off their skill and training. We make our statements on a world stage knowing full well that the reactions will swing in a flurry of directions. However, medals were won for an event…they won and medals signify that. As far as race in America goes…there is still a division…but the change has been better over time. That comes with morality and education. The mentalities are still there, but people are growing up…learning that skin color is pointless. I am not proud that I have friends of all colors. I am proud I have good friends.

Kaylee
For years and centuries even black people have been making a stand and will continue to do so, what these two athletes did was brave and I'm sure they got a greater reward than those medals that were taken from them. Overall their actions were all about self empowerment and doing the right thing.

Philip
I agree with the principles of Black Power - but I think the very term "Black Power" is divisive in itself. If the real aim is to achieve EQUAL power then why not establish an "Equal Power" movement that will help ANYONE who is being belittled. To be solely focussed on "Black Power" creates distinctions and separations rather than breaking down divisions to create a united society.

hova!
the actions of Tommie Smith and John Carlos, while less relevant in modern British society is still a very powerful message. Greater equality in America was largely dependent on people such as these men who were willing to stand up for what they believed was right. Whether a Black englishman or american, we owe them a great deal.

jacqueline
well well well someone was brave enough to comment about what a black women treasures most, apart from her babies and self respect: her hair. Not only was it a brainless comment but it was not called for. These two men did a brave thing WE AS BLACK PEOPLE need more the same... quiet, peaceful protest. That is until someone marks your skin.

fresh
The Olympic winners should not use the podium to express their views. What if the winner was a Nazi and gave the WWII Nazi salute? Olympics is about sports and nothing else. If you want to use your fame garnered at the Olympics to express your views, just not at the Olympics.

Nick
In 1968 black people were united trying to get equal rights and stop racism. Today in Britain we may think we've come a long way but the said truth is that ethnic minorities are at each other's throats. Asians speak badly of Carribeans and Carribeans look down upon people from places like Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan. We need more positive black role models who not only make money and take the spot light but speak up for their fellow black people. Things have come a long way but they've still got a hell of a long way to go.

CTB - Yorkshire
The statement was magnificent back then and represented Black achievement in sport despite the 2nd class view of the time by the majority, this same struggle continues and focus now much be on education and social improvement. Why are black parents not teaching their children to be the next doctors, lawyers, architects etc. I have spent many years studying at universities in my career and never come across another black peer!!!

Cee
I must stress that Black power has nothing to do with the way in which a black women choses to wear their hair whether it be nautural or processed! so lets get back to the real topic in question as oppose to making idle accusations, which are not founded!

Double D to the H MC
I think it was pointless. Did they achieve anything by it? All 'black power' does is aggravate racial tension.

Amiee
First of all as a white girl I cant believe Jordan's comment [further down] that black women think white women look better! That could not be further from the truth! I love the fact that we live in a multicultural society and it enriches every aspect of our lives.

Having lived in America I am proud to say although we are not completely free of racism we are far away from how it is there. I say give those athletes their medals back. We should all be proud of them!!

chris Frost
Black power will always be necessary. Black people must be constantly reminded of how far they have come, and how far they have yet to go. It is important for non-black people to understand that black power is about black people achieving equality, and not superiority, so there is nothing to fear.

The statement made by tommie smith and john carlos was very political. This event highlighted the double standard, that it was alright for African Americans to win medals for America, but not for them to vote in America.

S. Alty
The black power movement was relevant when black people in this country had no power - or at least considerably less power than we have today. And by power I mean political and socio-economic power, because we like all of humanity have within us soul power and faith power. Today the issue that needs to be pushed is people power.

jordan
i think it still relevant cos, a lot of black women i fink are not proud of their looks being black. like a lot of em say white women look best etc.

Reuben
black women need black power so they can stop relaxing their hair and being afraid of nappy roots. black women are still ashamed of nappy hair. so we need black power to fight the relaxer.

Mark
In a ever-changing world I personally think it's not relevant. Some in the USA would say there are still some unresolved issues, but that's there and not here in England/Europe. Racism comes in many forms nowadays and it's not just the default whites on blacks. It can also be blacks on whites, Indians on blacks, Indians on whites etc..

Nowadays it's not about the colour of your skin it's about the colour of your money. We have many black sportspeople in England & when they have encountered racism most of them dismiss it and put it down to ignorance. In the recent Ron Atkinson case, Desailly said he felt sorry for him because Atkinson had to resign from his lucrative media contracts due to the comments he made.

Rather than concentrating on topics related to USA lets concentrate on real topics that concern Britons. The mentality of most black Britons is totally different from most if not all black Americans.

boywonder
i am an athlete, i think that if something i believed needed to be shown to the world i would do the same. they did nothing wrong. they should get their medals back.

thomas ives
I am a white person from England but these two men to me are heroes and inspirations because despite the risks they stood up for what they believed in. The world is a better place for people like Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

shaun b
rasicm is all around us all the time, and theres nothing we can really do about. i dont think there will ever be a black prime minister. end of the day i believe you should fight for your beliefs and if that means mentally/physically in order to get your point across, do it. black power is always going to be relevant, and because two black athletes stood up to their beliefs, this " equal society" got all aggy.