Facts Quote by John Carlos
![“It took some time for us to realize that [people] didn't particularly say they didn't like us or have the love for us that they had in the past, nor the respect. I think they chose to leave based on the fact that they felt a reprisal for being associated or having a friendship with John Carlos or…” quote by John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bd1/john-carlos-16923_facts_it-took-some-time-for-us-to-realize-that_593802.jpg)
“It took some time for us to realize that [people] didn't particularly say they didn't like us or have the love for us that they had in the past, nor the respect. I think they chose to leave based on the fact that they felt a reprisal for being associated or having a friendship with John Carlos or Tommie Smith, or Peter Norman, for that matter.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Documentary “The 1968 Olympics: The Black Power Movement”, 2020
People distanced themselves due to perceived association with controversial athletes, fearing backlash or loss of respect.
In simple terms: Friends left because they feared being linked to protest athletes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how perceived affiliations can affect relationships.
Themes
social dynamics
politics
identity
relationships
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- activism
- team dynamics
- public perception
- friendship
- career decisions
Key Concepts
social pressure
reputation management
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle relationships when external politics intervene?
- What steps can you take to maintain respect despite controversial associations?
A Different Perspective
Not all distancing is personal; broader social tensions may be at play.
![“[Sport officials] blocked their support of us. But those individuals [ Muhammad Ali, the Jim Browns, the Bill Russells, Kareem Abdul Jabbar ] were old enough, they were wise enough, and they knew their history and this is why they came out in support of us, because they knew that we had our finger…” quote by John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13b/john-carlos-16923_bills_sport-officials-blocked-their-support-of_4987.jpg)
![“The black socks [on me at Olympics in 1968] emphasized the fact that we had so many Blacks and people of color here in the United States, the greatest country in the world, that was running around in poverty every day, so we wanted to illustrate the fact that these individuals did not have shoes…” quote by John Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d36/john-carlos-16923_black_the-black-socks-on-me-at-olympics-in-196_221018.jpg)
