美国国家公共电台 NPR Decades After An Iconic Protest, Tommie Smith Has Something Else On His Mind

Decades After An Iconic Protest, Tommie Smith Has Something Else On His Mind 

play pause stop mute unmute max volume 00:0004:48repeat repeat off Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser 1 to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. SCOTT SIMON, HOST: 

And it's time for sports.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: Colin Kaepernick took a knee as a naval 2 officer sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Thursday's game in San Diego. Boos burst in the air. NPR's Tom Goldman has followed the Kaepernick story and joins us. Tom, thanks so much for being with us.

TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE 3: My pleasure, Scott.

SIMON: Now, taking a knee, as opposed to just sitting out the national anthem 4, strikes me - whether you agree with it or not - is a deliberate statement as somebody who wants to show respect, even humility 5, but not reflexive obedience 6 to the national anthem. How has the Kaepernick protest symbolism evolved since last Sunday?

GOLDMAN: Well, one of the ways is what you mention. He says he and his teammate Eric Reid, who joined him in the protests in San Diego, decided 7 taking a knee would be more respectful than sitting. He's also spoken strongly about supporting the military.

That was a big thing Thursday night in San Diego, a city that has a huge military population. And Kaepernick seems to understand the protest is more credible 8 if he does more than sit out anthems 9. He says he's doing that. He says he's working with charities that serve the oppressed people.

Kaepernick says they're at the heart of this protest. And he says he'll donate a million dollars to those types of charities. So if you're a person who was initially 10 offended by his actions but you paid attention and were open to what he did and said as the week went on, he might seem like a more sympathetic figure today.

SIMON: There's been a lot of criticism but also a lot of support, hasn't there?

GOLDMAN: Yeah there are supporters, including active military and veterans. Some say they don't like his method. But they defend his right to protest. Others are OK with questioning just what the anthem and the flag stand for.

But there are, as you say, lots of critics, too. A number of police organizations feel insulted by Kaepernick's strong words about police brutality 11. In fact, the Santa Clara Police, who normally work 49ers home games, are threatening to boycott 12 those games unless the team, quote, "takes action against Kaepernick."

SIMON: Tom, in a report in the Kaepernick story this week, you happened to speak to Tommie Smith. Now, he's the Olympic runner who famously raised his fist as a symbol of black power at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He told you a story I have never had before.

GOLDMAN: (Laughter) I hadn't either. You know, that raised fist, Scott, along with American teammate John Carlos, is perhaps the most iconic sports protest ever. For most, it's what defines Smith and Carlos. And people almost forget they were great athletes, too.

I mean, Smith, in particular, was blazing fast in the Mexico City 200-meters. It landed him on top of that controversial victory stand with the gold medal around his neck. So yeah, I interviewed him about Colin Kaepernick but also asked him about the race.

And he got so animated 13, you know, not just remembering the victory but how he says he got robbed by five-hundredths of a second. His official winning time was 19.83 seconds. That was a world record.

He was the first man to break 20 seconds in the 200 - a great accomplishment 14. But Smith is a true competitor before he was an iconic activist 15. And he still burns a bit because he says he ran faster than 19.83. Here's a bit of our conversation.

TOMMIE SMITH: When I crossed the finish, I saw 19.78. And it stayed lit. It stayed lit. I said, oh, man. Smith, you were pretty fast. I'm talking to myself back then. I can tell you now. And when they made the announcement - Tommie Smith - roar (ph) - first time under 20 seconds - 19.83.

I was disappointed. (Laughter) But who was I to yell? I had already come off the victory stand. So, I mean, gee 16 whiz. Enough is enough.

GOLDMAN: You weren't going to cause any more trouble, right?

SMITH: And you're the first person I told this because you're the first person to ask about the race in that context.

SIMON: Now does this remind you, Tom - Tommie Smith wasn't just Eldridge Cleaver 17 in track shoes.

GOLDMAN: (Laughter).

SIMON: I mean, this guy was a jock. He was one of the best runners of his time. And he wanted that record.

GOLDMAN: Yeah.

SIMON: Any idea why the time was changed?

GOLDMAN: You know, he doesn't know. Neither does prominent Olympic historian David Wallechinsky. Wallechinsky noted 18 times on the field clock, often, are a little different from the official times. But usually, it's around a hundredth of a second or so but not 500. So maybe it was the technology back in 1968.

But whatever the reason, Tommie Smith loves the fact that the clock did say 19.78. Usain Bolt won the 200-meters in Rio last month in that exact time. There's no doubt in anyone's mind Bolt is the greatest. But it shows how great Smith was 48 years ago.

SIMON: NPR's Tom Goldman, thanks so much.

GOLDMAN: You're welcome.

SIMON: And tomorrow on WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY, how the national anthem became a symbol at games.