
In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest. Both men were forced to leave the Olympics, received death threats, and faced ostracism and continuing economic hardships.

On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. Winner of the 2023 YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Awardįinalist for the 2022 National Book Award for Young People’s LiteratureĪ Coretta Scott King Award Author and Illustrator Honor BookĪ Publishers Weekly Best Book of the YearĪ School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes, Dawud Anyabwileīiography & Autobiography, Sociology, Sports & Recreations, Young Adult Nonfiction
