The best thing about getting into the writing business is having the potential opportunity to meet people who have done, or continue to do amazing things. As a track reporter, I feel fortunate to have interviewed perhaps 25 Olympic medal winners, world and American (and other countries) record holders and a host of coaches, some who have transferred their skills to the NFL (Roger Kingdom), and the college ranks (Greg Foster, Johnny Gray). In fact, one athlete, Ato Boldon, is carving out quite a notable second career as an NBC broadcaster and international sports diplomat (take a second to Google "Doha Goals").
To date, my most memorable interviewing experience has been spending 40 minutes on the phone with 1964 gold medalist Billy Mills as he walked me through the final lap of his historic 10,000 meter race. But last Sunday provided for an occurrence which will now top the list. This is because, on that day, I got to not just meet, but spend a solid three hours with Dr. Tommie Smith and his wife Delois.
Tommie Smith is one of those rare athletes who transcended sports, and by doing so, etched a permanent mark into the fabric of American society. By taking a stand, on the Olympic medal stand, in Mexico City, he and USA teammate John Carlos created an image which is as powerful today as it was 46 years ago. It inspired a large number of people, and infuriated many others. But to state that their "Black Power" salute was simply significant would be a gross understatement.
It should be no surprise, that the Smith's, along with Dr. Charlie Hill, and some of the other good people I met that day, had little trouble recruiting me to help with the Health and Wellness Initiative. With that said, I look forward to attending the Tommie Smith meet in D.C. this May, as well as the meet at Hampton U., which will also be attended by the Smith's.
(Original version of article which appeared in the DAILY PRESS on Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Many thanks to sports editor Andi Petrini for passing this assignment to me)
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On October 16,
1968, Tommie Smith stepped on to an Olympic track in Mexico City and officially
became the fastest man in the world, winning the gold medal in the 200-meter
dash with a time of 19.83, a mark that would stand as the world record for 11 years.
It was the
second most significant thing he did on that day.
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| With Tommie Smith (center) and Maurice Pierce (right), head track coach at Hampton University, as well as coach of several Olympians, including gold medalist and women's indoor 400-meter world record holder Francena McCorory. |
You may need
help with the names, but you know the picture. After winning the race, Smith, flanked
on the medal podium by college and USA teammate John Carlos, and Australian
silver medalist Peter Norman, thrust a black-gloved fist toward the humid
Mexico City sky. The picture that captured Smith’s right fist and Carlos’ left became
an iconic image of the Olympics, and a key event of the Civil Rights movement.
On Sunday, Smith
raised his arm in another gesture, but this one was to fire the starting pistol
for the first race at the first annual Tommie Smith Indoor Youth Track Meet and
Health Fair, held at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. The meet, hosted by Hampton’s
William and Charlene Moore and the Technique Track Club, hosted over 600
athletes from four states and the District of Columbia. There will be a similar
outdoor meet in late May at HU’s Armstrong Stadium.
While the historical
event of 1968 may have been recognized by more people, the meet, the first
indoor event to bear Tommie Smith’s name, is fueled by another great cause –
the need for youths to exercise and eat healthy.
“This brings
about positive change,” said Smith, who at 70 (born on D-Day, June 6, 1944)
still bears a strong athletic presence. “We focus on health, but we also look
at things of organization, like the importance of being prompt. We use track
and field as part of the program.”
It’s a message
that Smith, and his wife Delois are taking around the world. They are based in
Atlanta, but “probably make two or three trips each month,” said Mrs.
Jordan-Smith.
While the travel
is burdensome, the by-products of their presence are evident.
“Because of the
involvement of Dr. Smith (he recently retired after 33 years as a sociology
professor) and other representatives, we have the opportunity to give our kids
a chance to make healthy choices in life. It would seem like we’re only focused
on SOL’s (Standards of Learning) and grades, but we want to work with the
social and emotional development of each child, to create a well rounded
individual,” said Kimberly Judge, principal of Newsome Park Elementary in
Newport News, one of two pilot schools which will receive health and
educational services as part of the Youth Movement Initiative of 100 Black Men
of America.
“We focus on how
to address our youth’s health and wellness,” said Dr. Jeremiah Williams,
president of the Virginia Peninsula chapter of 100 Black Men of America. “We
take care of health first, but we’ll also visit the schools weekly to read with
the students, and we do things such as Secret Santa every Christmas. We commit
a lot of resources to this, and our aim is to get the community involved. I
love it.”
The Health and
Wellness initiative started 14 years ago in Oakland, CA, but has branched out
to several other cities, making the most impact in the District of Columbia,
and now hopefully, Hampton Roads.
Health
screenings, conducted by biology and nursing students from Hampton University,
gave an indication of some of the program’s elements.
“We will meet
weekly with students and their parents,” said Dr. Michelle Penn-Marshall,
biology chairperson at Hampton. “We’ll measure their height, weight and BMI
(body mass index), give them cooking lessons, and show them how to prepare
healthy snacks. We also show them how to budget their money and eat healthy.”
The significance
of the event was not lost on many spectators. Newport News mayor McKinley Price
was in attendance, as well as chairman of the organizations' International
Prostate Cancer Initiative, Dr. Charlie Hill, and track Olympians LaTasha
Colander and Bershawn “Batman” Jackson.
Colander, a
Portsmouth native (Manor/Wilson HS) who anchored the gold medal 4x400 women’s
team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, spoke of the importance of the inaugural
meet.
“This ignites
the flame and inspires youths,” said Colander, who was recently inducted into
the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. “The younger generation hasn’t experienced
the track and field world. They don’t realize that we run track meets in
football stadiums all over Europe. It’s bigger than what we see, and they
should know that you can have a future, and a profession in track.”
Hampton
University track coach Maurice Pierce mirrored the feeling.
“Tommie Smith is
my childhood hero,” said Pierce, who has coached several Olympians, including
Francena McCorory, whose 49.48 in the 400-meters was the fastest women’s time
in the world last year. “I hope that people realize the historical significance
of today.”
Before the meet,
all of the competitors were summoned to the infield, where Smith addressed the
youngsters.
“Today is a day
of historic recognition. You have a legacy that will last for the rest of your
life. Consider yourself to be winners, regardless of your time or place. Today,
in you, a winner is born!”
After the
opening race, Smith met with fans, both young and old, in the auxiliary area
near the front entrance. While the older visitors spoke of his impact on their
lives, some of the younger kids in line gained a valuable history lesson.
Nine-year old Amirah
Critz had her first opportunity to speak with Smith. As she received her
autographed picture of the three Olympic medal winners on the medal stand, her
eyes brightened up and the young lady announced her newfound revelation.
“You’re famous!”
