John Carlos

The story behind a critical moment in American history, spawning one of most iconic images of protest from the past century. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, the world watched as two American runners, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, took the stage as the U.S. national anthem played, raising their fists in a symbol of black struggle and solidarity.

United States, September 1st, 2016. American football player Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem, protesting police brutality against black people. Part of the population regards the gesture as an unacceptable affront to the flag. Later, he loses his place on his team. Today, however, he is considered by many as a true hero.

At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, the silent protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos changed The Games forever, becoming one of the defining images of the 20th century.

The black power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico Olympics was an iconic moment in the US civil rights struggle. Far less known is the part in that episode in history played by Peter Norman, the white Australian on the podium who had run second — and the price paid afterward by all three athletes.

Fists of Freedom examines one of the 20th century’s most memorable moments — the dramatic “Black Power” demonstration of American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the victory stand at the 1968 Summer games in Mexico City. Using rare footage, archival photos and interviews with key figures from the era, revisit a pivotal event in American history.

才人スパイク・リー監督が、自身も尊敬する、近代アメリカきっての偉大な思想家であり、キング牧師と並ぶ黒人解放運動のリーダー、マルコムＸの生涯を描いた伝記的作品。物語は、マルコムがチンピラだった頃から始まる。若くして窃盗罪で服役し、刑務所の中でイスラム教に改宗、出所ののち彼は、イライジャ・ムハマットの下でブラック・モスレムきっての白人を敵対視する煽動家となる。やがて組織に疑問を感じ、多人種共存の道を探ってメッカを巡礼、そしてあらゆる人種の真の友愛を悟って帰国。そしてアメリカ黒人の解放運動を今までになかった新しい理念によって大きく展開しようとした矢先の１９６５年２月２１日、ハーレムのオーデュボン・ボールルームでの講演中に１３発の銃弾を浴びて射殺されるまでの、壮絶な軌跡を克明に追う。原作は、マルコムＸが著わし「ＲＯＯＴＳ／ルーツ」のアレックス・ヘイリーがまとめた『マルコムＸ自伝』。Ｄ・ワシントンのパワフルな芝居とテンポの良い演出が、この長尺を一気に見せる。

James Earl Jones narrates this fascinating and moving documentary about the life of the assassinated black leader through various sources.