Lesson Plan: Black Activism – M.L.K., the Olympics and the N.F.L.
Grades 9-12
The protests in 2016 by Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, may have been regarded by some N.F.L. fans as un-American, but they were deeply rooted in American history. In 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black Power salute on the medal stand during the Olympic Games in Mexico City. Their activism led to their expulsion from the Games and sparked a national discussion about the role of Black athletes in addressing civil rights and social justice issues. This lesson explores the connections between the nonviolent, direct action approach of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights era and the role of celebrities and athletes over successive generations.
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