Man Shares A Heartbreaking Story About The ‘Third Man’ In The Famous Photo From The 1968 Olympics
Back in 1968, a heroic protest for equality happened during the Olympic games in Mexico City. Many of us know Tommie Smith and John Carlos as the brave heroes who dared to stand for their civil rights, but only a few remember the third person who participated in this protest for justice, Peter Norman.
Not long ago, Khaya Dlanga, a South African author, shared some heartbreaking details about Peter Norman’s life after he dared to show his solidarity during the Olympic games. Khaya’s Twitter thread sheds a new light on our history and shows the importance of equality and respect in our society.
Scroll down to read more about it, and don’t forget to tell us what you think in the comments.
More info: Khaya Dlanga
Khaya Dlanga is a South African author, and on his Twitter account he has shared a heartbreaking part of our history that only a few know about
Image credits: Khaya Dlanga
Image credits: khayadlanga
After reading this story, people started adding more heartbreaking facts to it
In a sculpture at San Jose’s State University, a silver medal position was left empty at Norman’s request, so people could pose for photos in solidarity
Image credits: Albert
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Share on FacebookHe was a good man, and did the right thing and continued to do so for all the rest of his life despite the hostility and hatred from others that was his daily lot.
Sometimes when you do the right thing, it means you stand alone. Don't ever let that be a reason to stop doing the right thing
Australia was a real -only white- racist country those days. Peter Norman -at least- needs a statue on his own. God bless him
Saw a great documentary about this man's story. He was basically one of the most amazing athletes ever to come out of Australia and would have won medal after medal, but was barred from competing and ostracized from the Australian athletics and Olympics community for the rest of his life, because he stood up for what was right.
We really need to do more to recognize our true Australian heroes . If we can have statues and a holiday for a stupid football game and horse race, then why the hell don't we do more to recognize people like this.
He's such a great guy! ... The Australian parliament apologizing was just too late dude....too late..
Omg. O remwbwr seeing this picture way back and....well, not knowing the whole story, so im sure u can guess my thoughts. I take it back a million times. All his efforts ... and can imagine the pain of being denied what he wanted most and was over qualified for simply for standing for whats right.... Gid bless him. Thank you for this Bored Panda.
Takes a lot to move cynic like me. This story did. I'm glad that Smith and Carlos honored the man.
No nike contract, no social media, no holiday or street named after you, no guest commentator on an news station. I just hope that the knowledge that you did the right thing was enough to sustain him. Let him be an inspiration to us all.
Yet people are hating on Colin Kapernick for also doing the same thing. Things that make you go hmmmm.
Shows how little has changed and that is very depressing.
Load More Replies...what the f**k is that apology for? they should have apologized back then when he was alive.
Some think that too late is better than never...
Load More Replies...Wow. As the oppressed in America, it's so rare to hear of a true ally finding out what it means to become THE oppressed. May his soul rest forever in beauty, light, and love. Thank you Peter.
this is a powerful story and I am so happy to know the history but sad that someone had to put up with so much heartache for justice.
Some of this info is a little shaky; Peter Norman wasn't shunned by the Sydney Olympic committee in 2000 because he wouldn't condemn Smith and Carlos (that one is an outright lie, and has been debunked many-a-time); he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1999, and was presented with an Australian Sports Medal in 2000. His exclusion from Munich Olympics is still debated - he came third in his trials, some day he should have gone, others say he shouldn't have. He was a sporting hero, even though in his personal life he was anything but (he walked away from his first wife and never sort to see his children from his first marriage until much later in life). I'm not going to say Australia reacted perfectly, but I am trying to point out that you can't take everything you read on Twitter as fact.
No no no when someone is doing a great or terrible thing that is the only thing you can talk about when you are taking about him
Load More Replies...Great people through great sufferings. Some survive some not, but they are all leaves behind great legacy. Btw, the opening statement of the article needs to correct Khaya Dlanga's country.
I had heard this story recently. Norman did great in this life. I hope his next is easier on him.
Unfortunately, Australia still has a lot of bigots, from all race, sex and creed. As you can see by the years, it has a long way to go.
America is FAR from the only country that has dealt with racism. Additionally, it isnt about race, but even heritage. It is STILL prevalent in some places! (Example: many British people STILL hate Irish (gypsies)! There are still people in the UK that actually REFUSE to donate used clothing, furniture, etc! They will openly admit that they DESTROY their used goods, just to make sure that no "Gypsies" are able to pull them out of the garbage and use them!
I did not know anything about this good man. I am glad I read this story, he is my hero now. Shame on Australia! I took them more than 40 years to acknowledge his greatness.
Learn something great everday. Learning is the key to the future, remembering the past should be hailed not scorned. Remember the past, good, bad or neutral so we can Learn about it and hopefully not repeat it. All of these gentlemen suffered some dire consequences. They were ahead of the game by 50 plus years. Men before their time. Another thing I learned was, I could never figure out why Tommie and Juan raised different arms, now I know they shared a pair of Black Gloves, I learned two things today. At 72 it is still not too old to learn something new. Brave Men no doubt. Smith and Carlos endured, Norman went to his grave never receiving an apology until after his death.
Please make a movie out of his life. Can somebody make it happen? RIP Sir...
That is truly sad and something I did not know. I knew about the incident in question, that's when I was growing up, but you never heard much about him. And all they gave him was an apology? That is the saddest thing of all. So much for equality of any kind.
So many white allies of black people have gone unrecognized over the years...
I doubt many know the story behind the two saluting. But, anyway, check out the documentary, 'Salute', by Norman's nephew.
1/ What makes you think he believed there would be no consequences ? He could wery well known what consequences to face, and decided to do it anyway. This takes bloody courage ! 2/He was Australian, not American. I know it's unusual, but thhis has nothing to do with America. It happens. 3/ I don't know what you call civilized, but the US certainly aren't, from what I can read here each and every day. In the US, you'd better be white, rich and healthy, or you can die and nobody gives a f**k.
Load More Replies...He was a good man, and did the right thing and continued to do so for all the rest of his life despite the hostility and hatred from others that was his daily lot.
Sometimes when you do the right thing, it means you stand alone. Don't ever let that be a reason to stop doing the right thing
Australia was a real -only white- racist country those days. Peter Norman -at least- needs a statue on his own. God bless him
Saw a great documentary about this man's story. He was basically one of the most amazing athletes ever to come out of Australia and would have won medal after medal, but was barred from competing and ostracized from the Australian athletics and Olympics community for the rest of his life, because he stood up for what was right.
We really need to do more to recognize our true Australian heroes . If we can have statues and a holiday for a stupid football game and horse race, then why the hell don't we do more to recognize people like this.
He's such a great guy! ... The Australian parliament apologizing was just too late dude....too late..
Omg. O remwbwr seeing this picture way back and....well, not knowing the whole story, so im sure u can guess my thoughts. I take it back a million times. All his efforts ... and can imagine the pain of being denied what he wanted most and was over qualified for simply for standing for whats right.... Gid bless him. Thank you for this Bored Panda.
Takes a lot to move cynic like me. This story did. I'm glad that Smith and Carlos honored the man.
No nike contract, no social media, no holiday or street named after you, no guest commentator on an news station. I just hope that the knowledge that you did the right thing was enough to sustain him. Let him be an inspiration to us all.
Yet people are hating on Colin Kapernick for also doing the same thing. Things that make you go hmmmm.
Shows how little has changed and that is very depressing.
Load More Replies...what the f**k is that apology for? they should have apologized back then when he was alive.
Some think that too late is better than never...
Load More Replies...Wow. As the oppressed in America, it's so rare to hear of a true ally finding out what it means to become THE oppressed. May his soul rest forever in beauty, light, and love. Thank you Peter.
this is a powerful story and I am so happy to know the history but sad that someone had to put up with so much heartache for justice.
Some of this info is a little shaky; Peter Norman wasn't shunned by the Sydney Olympic committee in 2000 because he wouldn't condemn Smith and Carlos (that one is an outright lie, and has been debunked many-a-time); he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1999, and was presented with an Australian Sports Medal in 2000. His exclusion from Munich Olympics is still debated - he came third in his trials, some day he should have gone, others say he shouldn't have. He was a sporting hero, even though in his personal life he was anything but (he walked away from his first wife and never sort to see his children from his first marriage until much later in life). I'm not going to say Australia reacted perfectly, but I am trying to point out that you can't take everything you read on Twitter as fact.
No no no when someone is doing a great or terrible thing that is the only thing you can talk about when you are taking about him
Load More Replies...Great people through great sufferings. Some survive some not, but they are all leaves behind great legacy. Btw, the opening statement of the article needs to correct Khaya Dlanga's country.
I had heard this story recently. Norman did great in this life. I hope his next is easier on him.
Unfortunately, Australia still has a lot of bigots, from all race, sex and creed. As you can see by the years, it has a long way to go.
America is FAR from the only country that has dealt with racism. Additionally, it isnt about race, but even heritage. It is STILL prevalent in some places! (Example: many British people STILL hate Irish (gypsies)! There are still people in the UK that actually REFUSE to donate used clothing, furniture, etc! They will openly admit that they DESTROY their used goods, just to make sure that no "Gypsies" are able to pull them out of the garbage and use them!
I did not know anything about this good man. I am glad I read this story, he is my hero now. Shame on Australia! I took them more than 40 years to acknowledge his greatness.
Learn something great everday. Learning is the key to the future, remembering the past should be hailed not scorned. Remember the past, good, bad or neutral so we can Learn about it and hopefully not repeat it. All of these gentlemen suffered some dire consequences. They were ahead of the game by 50 plus years. Men before their time. Another thing I learned was, I could never figure out why Tommie and Juan raised different arms, now I know they shared a pair of Black Gloves, I learned two things today. At 72 it is still not too old to learn something new. Brave Men no doubt. Smith and Carlos endured, Norman went to his grave never receiving an apology until after his death.
Please make a movie out of his life. Can somebody make it happen? RIP Sir...
That is truly sad and something I did not know. I knew about the incident in question, that's when I was growing up, but you never heard much about him. And all they gave him was an apology? That is the saddest thing of all. So much for equality of any kind.
So many white allies of black people have gone unrecognized over the years...
I doubt many know the story behind the two saluting. But, anyway, check out the documentary, 'Salute', by Norman's nephew.
1/ What makes you think he believed there would be no consequences ? He could wery well known what consequences to face, and decided to do it anyway. This takes bloody courage ! 2/He was Australian, not American. I know it's unusual, but thhis has nothing to do with America. It happens. 3/ I don't know what you call civilized, but the US certainly aren't, from what I can read here each and every day. In the US, you'd better be white, rich and healthy, or you can die and nobody gives a f**k.
Load More Replies...
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