John Carlos and his forgotten stand
Many athletes have taken a stand in history but, none have been more forgotten yet important than that of John Carlos. His stand in history has proved that even though it may seem small at the time and that is has been forgotten that it can still bring a huge impact and change the world forever. He showed us that no matter what you have to stand up for what you believe in despite the consequences as shown by the years after the 1968 Mexico City Olympic protest where he was beaten, his house vandalized, his kids bullied, and his wife even going so far as to commit suicide since the FBI had been watching them for years after suspicion of collaborating with the Black Panther group a pro black terrorist group that has killed multiple white people. Some people going so far to even calling it the black KKK. But John Carlos may have not even gotten into racism if it wasn’t for his poor borough, Harlem, New York where it was so poor that he had to steal food from trains. But despite his conditions he thrived as a student and an athlete winning multiple medals including the Lone Star State Championship, Pan American Track and field Trophy and much much more. He has shown that no matter where you come from you can thrive and the fact that crime isn’t the only option. Even though his borough had the highest crime rate in New York City full of drugs, murder, assault and much more due to the segregation and the lack of services available. You can still do great things no matter where you come from and all it takes is one stand to make a huge difference not in just the world but in your community, even your home because anyone who makes a difference even in the littlest sense of the word you're a hero and you have to remember every difference counts and every difference makes a change in someone's life.
Samuel Wakefield
Senior Division
Website
348 Words