47 Years After Tommie Smith Raised His Hand

I met Tommie Smith two years ago. A few years before I met him, I stood outside the stadium where he won his medal and lost credibility with much of the world community. All three Olympians who stood on that podium took a stand against apartheid and other civil rights abuses. When the athletes returned to their home countries... how were they treated? We forget about the Australian who was also shunned. We forget about how the American athletes were treated in their own neighborhoods and homeland. Racism requires dedication from The Many.

Change requires that people take a stand before The Many are ready. Change rarely looks like we expect. Recognition often comes late, if ever. Humans want to be on the side of Change. We want to be Trailblazers, but we are usually on the side of The Many. I consider myself a Trailblazer, but I am probably more often human.

Here are some more of my photos and more thoughts about meeting a Trailblazer.