Two American athletes made history at the 1968 Summer Olympics but not on the track. They staged a silent protest against racial injustice. Tommie Smith and John Carlos gold and bronze medalists in the 200-meter sprint stood with heads bowed and black-gloved fists raised as the national anthem played during the medal ceremony. The Australian silver medalist wore a human rights badge in support. All three would pay a heavy price for their activism. A Life magazine photograph seen by millions would ensure that the silent protest was remembered and eventually admired as a symbol of the battle for equality and civil rights.