Fifty-One Years Later - Still Standing
Fifty-One Years Later - Still Standing
"I'm about the movement, not the moment." - Dr. John Carlos
Fifty-one years of being a public icon I learned to be humble, gracious and happy with my history.
I never would have imagined our historical silent protest at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City on the podium, would have turned into one of the greatest, most memorable sports/political movements in today's history.
Who would have thought a silent protest would be the inspiration for so many individuals to actually speak and be a voice for so many groups who feel unheard.
Through that iconic moment, I've learned so much. I've learned and adopted a specific phrase or rather my very own quote that sums up the direction God has chosen for me. "I'm about the movement, not the moment."
You see, that day God had something special planned for me as well as my fellow brothers on the podium. God knew that day would change all of our lives. God chose all of us to deliver a message that day. He also spoke to me and said continue to deliver that message until the change required is fully fixed and recognized.
Although progress has been made, there is still so much more to do and accomplish.
I've learned through the 50 years that we are still stuck at a go. Many people still have hesitancies based on the fear factor. They are afraid to step up to protect their children's education, to discipline their kids, and to stop the violence and drugs within their communities.
I realized that we sit back too much and wait for politicians and agencies to take care of our social issues rather than address it ourselves.
We can no longer stand to let them be the voice for us. It's time for us to step up to the plate and be the men and women we should be in society.
If we take time and go back and study our history, we will find that we were kings, queens inventors, builders, gardeners, and gatherers. Somewhere along the line, we seem to have lost all of that. We rely today on politicians that don't really have our best interests at heart, not to say all politicians are like this, but many are.
No longer can we sit back and let specific individuals deal us the deck of cards they've dealt us over the last 500 years. It's time we step up and be the dealer ourselves.
Dealing in education, employment, wisdom and happiness, love, growth of self, respect and honor of our elders.
Never forget those that came to earth before you. If we think our times are hard, imagine what theirs was like a hundred years ago as a black person.
If they survived long enough to have us here today, we have to a better job for those that will be hereafter us.
My name and my John Carlos brand will hopefully remain a symbol for hope, justice, unity, equality, and freedom. Similar to our iconic picture on the podium.
Hopefully, the next 50 years to come will be much brighter.
God bless