February 1, 2012

John Carlos may not be a household name. Former athlete, current coach and educator, Carlos won the bronze medal in the 200 metre sprint at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. But John Carlos' image is certainly one that is widely recognized. He stood on the podium with his teammate Tommie Smith, during a time when African-Americans weren't even regarded as equal citizens, and raised his fist to protest their treatment. But it's not a story he shared with his own grandkids. He talks about their moment of discovery:

In this clip, John talks about...

The moment his grandsons discovered his past
"You know when this book signing started I have two twin grandsons. And they know me as grandpa. They don't know my history because I don't tell my kids my history. And so they went to this book signing and they texting like all the kids texting and they're having a good time and then when the people started coming in and they texting but they ain't texting as diligently no more. And when people keep coming then they put their cell phones down. And then they see that they had to stop people from coming in because the place was full to capacity then the people started arguing like 'let me get on the stage', they want to go on the stage and so they open up and let some more people in...and Dave zirin phrased it correctly when he says, "john carlos' grandkids look like someone whispered in their ear and told them that your grandfather was batman or something.'"

John goes on to say that the Occupy protests resonate with him because the same things he stood against more than four decades ago are being protested today. He says it's difficult to see that even all these years later, racism is still such a problem:
"I would say things have improved somewhat. But where the improvement has taken place looks like we're sliding back. You know, racism is starting to vent its nasty wings again. You know the things I'm seeing happening where they chaining guys to trucks and dragging them through the south or if I see some white kids just drive down from Mississippi and they just pick up a black guy and run over him and take his life or I see the New York City police department stick a stuck up a man's rectum based on the fact of their colour. Yeah, we have a nasty problem out there but then again you have to realize that we in a fight. We in a fight. You know it's good versus evil and when they make a move, I can't get disgusted. I might get frustrated and mad. My attitude is if you put a move on me then I have to evaluate the move they made and then come up with a better move to put them in check and hold them in check."