"Fists of Freedom: The Story of the '68 Summer Games" (originally released in 1999; 60 min.) is a documentary bout the events that led to Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their gloved fists at a medal ceremony during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. As the documentary opens, we are reminded of the major political and social upheaval taking place in the US. We then are introduced to Tommie Smith, Lee Evans and John Carlos, who all end up at San Jose State in the mid-60s, in an overtly racist environment. As the '68 Summer Olympics loom, they, and other black athletes, ponder their options... At this point we are 10 min. Into the documentary.
Couple of comments: this is directed by George Roy. Who has made dozens of these TV sports documentaries, but this one stand out for its importance. Please note that to suggest this is "the story of the '68 Summer Games" is flat-out wrong and in fact the Olympic Games are dealt with in about 10 min (if that much). Indeed the film looks primarily at what led to the events, and the fallout from the events. Smith, Evans and many others are interviewed and give their perspectives, with the benefit of 30+ years of hindsight. Whether you agree with what these athletes did or not, the fact remains that the image of two black athletes, raising their gloved fists as the national anthem plays, is one of the more powerful images ever to emerge from that era. As Smith notes: "this was not a sign of hate for this country; it was a cry for help, a cry for freedom."
This film was originally released on HBO in 1999 and then a new introduction and post-script were added in 2018, for the 50th anniversary of these events. It can now be seen on HBO ON Demand (where I caught it the other day), Amazon Instant Video, and other streaming services. It absolutely blows the mind how, now 50+ years later, so much more needs to be done to address the systemic and institutionalized racism that continues to exist in this country. If you have any interest in civil rights and social justice issues, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
