Civil rights activist and Olympian John Carlos visited the Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice (CCRRJ) for an intimate conversation with members of the Pitt community on February 17, 2023.
“I ran for justice,” Carlos told the congregation of staff, faculty, and law students at the Barco Law Building.
John Carlos, who won a bronze medal for the 200-meter sprint at the 1968 Summer Olympics, is regarded as a seminal figure of the civil rights era.
His protest was captured in one of the most reproduced images of the 20th century: Carlos standing alongside fellow Olympian Tommie Smith, both their fists raised in the Black Power salute.
“It wasn’t about the fist itself. It was about the composition of the fist, how that protest came together, and what it ultimately meant,” said Carlos.
During his talk, Carlos shared how the choice to protest for the rights of Black Americans at the summer games impacted his life – and the life of his family.
“It was nothing short of a privilege to host John Carlos at the Center,” said Center Executive Director Sheila Vélez Martínez. “The students were so engaged by his passion.”
An openhearted reception at Pitt and words of encouragement to POC student-athletes
Carlos commented on how welcome he felt while visiting the University of Pittsburgh. This was his first time on campus, despite having visited Pittsburgh many times in the past.
“You guys really made me feel welcome,” said Carlos. “It’s inspiring to see so many young minority students and administrators.”
Carlos touched on the importance of empowering student-athletes and their families in the college admissions process.
“Minority parents oftentimes don’t know what questions to ask coaches,” he said, reflecting on the struggle many student-athletes experience once being admitted.
‘Working on your dimples’
Carlos showed relentless good humor during his talk, even when discussing some of the darkest moments of American history and his own lived experience.
“You don’t have to get mad at the people who stand in your way. You just got to work on your dimples,” he said with a gleam in his eye.
“It was refreshing to hear how John Carlos framed struggle from a place of love and joy,” reflected Vélez Martínez.
What we owe each other
CCRRJ Faculty Director Gabby Yearwood honed in on the message of service shared by Carlos during his talk.
“Carlos encouraged students to pursue education but also warned them that they needed to do it with purpose,” said Yearwood. “A purpose not just to help themselves, but to use the opportunity to uplift others.”
After finishing speaking, Carlos took the time to talk with students and faculty one-on-one before posing for photographs.
“The date of my birth, the date of my death… all of that is irrelevant,” Carlos said somberly.
“It’s all about what you do in between.”