Salute (2008)

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Salute was released on July 17, 2008, in the USA. The Australian film was produced by Wingman Pictures International. The film was written and directed by Matt Norman. The movie was displaying how Peter Norman, an Australian athlete, took part in the US civil rights movement and how it affects his life[1].

Plot

Racism issue in 1968 was a provocative issue at the time. The assassination of civil rights activists such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy had erupted riots across the United States. In Mexico City, 200 student activists were killed in Tlatelolco plaza where they demanded a reformation and social justice. The Olympic Project for Human Rights declined to participate in the Olympics but after thoughtful consideration, they agreed to join as there would be a bigger place to attain public attraction for the civil rights movement. In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, Tommi Smith and John Carlos, the first and third winner of the 200-meter sprint decided to express the Black Power Salute in the victory ceremony. Both of them decided to ask Norman, the Australian athlete who won the second position, to stand up for their belief. Surprisingly, Norman would like to contribute to fighting prejudice. In the ceremony, Smith and Carlos raised their fists showing the Black Power Salute while Norman wore the Olympic Project for Human Rights badge publicly. As they are fighting racism with their own in their own country, the United States and Australia, they all paid the price where they get banished and outcasted from the Olympics team. However, they have become an inspiration for many to speak out courageously for civil rights even though they have to defy the public assumptions at the time[2].

Black Empowerment

Peter Norman, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos[3]

It can be seen where the African Americans and the White Australian collaborate to stand up to fight against racism in sport. Before the victory ceremony, Smith and Carlos asked Peter Norman to stood beside them, and surprisingly for them, Norman agreed to express what he believes. What Norman did was simply wearing a badge "Olympic Project for Human Rights" an organization that protests against racism. Not only that, when Norman returned home, he made it clear that he supported the movement and criticized the White Australia Policy. He could have made a decision not to support those two athletes as both of them have warned him of the impact that he would get in the future. In the end, he paid the price, he was banished, rubbed out, and outcasted. Still, his belief in civil rights has become the Olympic code where racism has no place in sports and an inspiration for many people[4].

Controversy

When Tommie Smith and John Carlos expressing the Black Power Salute by raising their fists on the victory of the 200 meters in the 1968 Olympic in Mexico. After that, they were dismissed from the U.S. Olympic Team, abused, and threatened in their home country for fighting racism. Peter Norman, the second winner of the 200 meters race, should be the national hero for his victory as the second-fastest 200-meter sprinter in the world. But, he was also banished from Australia Olympic Team. His name is removed from the Australian Olympic team and labeled as an outcast. The government wants to make these athletes as an example of not standing up for civil rights[5].

References

  1. Salute (2008). IMDb. Retrieved January 19 2021
  2. Richard Phillips and Ismet Redzovic. Salute: A moving tribute World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved January 19 2021
  3. Salute World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved January 19 2021
  4. Paul Byrnes. Salute The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 19 2021
  5. T-Mak. Salute Movie Review T-Mak World. Retrieved January 19 2021