John Carlos has one regret over Black Power salute at 1968 Mexico Olympics
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Yet for all the immediate backlash, over time the image of the two men on the podium — along with Aussie silver medallist Peter Norman, who wore a badge supporting equal rights at the medal ceremony — has become a symbol of black people’s quest for equality.
It was admirable and brave, to say the very least, but for all the good it did, Carlos has revealed he has one regret over the incident. In an interview with Forbes, the bronze medallist said his regret has nothing to do with how the ceremony unfolded, but how his actions had long lasting implications for his family.
“For anything I’ve ever done in my life — and I’ve done quite a bit — I’ve never been more proud than of what I did in that demonstration,” said Carlos.
“But the one regret I do have is that I didn’t think enough about safeguarding my family.
“I didn’t think people would strike out at my wife and kids. I thought that they would just come after me.
“I lost my wife in the process — she took her life — and my kids were scorned in school based on the fact that I was their father.”
His wife Kim died by suicide in 1977, and his family was regularly subjected to death threats.
In past interviews the now-70-year-old has often maintained he has no regrets about taking part in the protest, but clearly its effect on those closest to him has weighed heavily on the former sprinter.