Don Letts introduces a soundscape telling the story of the potent Black Power protest at the 1968 Olympics by 200m medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos.

Including inspirational music from Marvin Gaye, James Carr, James Brown, Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, the Impressions, Mark Alexander, Solomon Burke, the Chambers Brothers, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, Bill Withers, Jimi Hendrix and Elaine Brown mixed with archive footage of the Olympic Games and the voices of Smith and Carlos telling their story and the repercussions of their brave act.

Don also brings the story up to the modern day with the thoughts of American football star Colin Kaepernick, who, since 2016, has led the ‘take a knee’ protests during the national anthem at American football games, in response to police brutality, continuing deprivation and discrimination.

This programme was first broadcast in October 2018 as part of the Black Power Season on 6 Music, 1Xtra and 5 Live, marking Black History Month and 50 years since Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their gloved fists in their potent and provocative Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Sadly, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota during his arrest in 2020, the issues explored in the programme became headline news once again. We repeat this programme to mark the first anniversary of his tragic death. Show less