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[ApharmdX]

Oh wow, that was powerful. And I'm ashamed to say that I never knew about Peter Norman.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

That was a great read. I never knew about his role before this.

Shameful how he was treated by his country. 2012? Are you fucking kidding me?

 

[Angelus Errare]

Pretty old news. Do people really not get curious about the white guy in the pic?

I'd imagine many people don't even know this photo let alone the people in it.

 

[Glendemonium]

He's worlds beyond honorable, very few people would of done that in those days. I'm glad Australia finally acknowledged him and put him back in the record books.

 

[Memory]

I actually read about this guy as someone on GAF posted a story on him last year, maybe it was in the iconic photographs thread. Solid guy, much respect from me.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

I remember reading about this guy last year at some point. Powerful stuff.

 

[Ganzlinger]

Great read. Thanks for sharing this!

 

[eznark]

ctually, I even thought that that guy – who seemed to be just a simpering Englishman – represented, in his icy immobility, the will to resist the change that Smith and Carlos were invoking in their silent protest.

Why would anyone assume that?

 

[spindashing]

I actually read about this guy as someone on GAF posted a story on him last year, maybe it was in the iconic photographs thread. Solid guy, much respect from me.

Honestly, that's probably how I first heard about it.

I didn't know about the glove thing, though.

 

[Deleted member 309291]

Heartfelt story, however that page is pure unadultered clickbait trash, smh.

 

[Always-honest]

I actually read about this guy as someone on GAF posted a story on him last year, maybe it was in the iconic photographs thread. Solid guy, much respect from me.

Yep

 

[The Omega Man]

Well that got me sappy, an unsung hero right there.

 

[Kill3r7]

Great read. Thanks for sharing.

 

[cat litter]

Nice read, thanks. The article describes him as 5'6 but he's listed at 5'10 on google however

 

[psylah]

I never knew that they didn't have their shoes on.

 

[FullMetaltech]

Great read. Really brought tears to my eyes.

 

[dorikyasu]

Peter Norman, A true hero Australia did not deserve.
Thanks for making my eyes tear up, OP.

 

[HomerSimpson-Man]

That was a great emotional read, was getting all misty eyed by the end.

I can't believe he was ostracized for that long and not accepted by his home country, not invited even to the freakin' 2000 Olympics in Sydney by the Australian Olympic Committee? Wow.

It took til 2012 for Australia to truly recognize him....damn.

 

[Salmonax]

That was an excellent read. Thanks so much for posting it.

 

[BreezyLimbo]

Normin, you were an honorable man. It's a shame what Australia did to you.

Yup. Australia blackballing after this 'debacle' was shameful. So damn shameful.

 

[theignoramus]

What utterly embarrassing and pathetic behaviour from Australia for all those decades.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Thanks for this. I had know that he stood in solidarity with them, but not the rest of his story. That the others served as his pallbearer is incredibly moving.

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/10...the_response_to_his_iconic_black_power_salute

This, too. What great person.

 

[Piggus]

Well, I certainly learned something today. Thank you OP. Great read.

 

[superdeluxe]

Damn. Great story. Australia did him dirty.

 

[nictron]

Great read. I had no idea and I will be sharing this.

 

[Vibranium]

Excellent story, I really feel sorry for Peter Norman. Thank you for posting.

 

[Anoregon]

That bit about the statue and wanting to be left out so other people can stand where he stood is pretty phenomenal.

 

[SkeptiMism]

Never seen the pic before, but that was some powerful reading.

What the fuck at Australia too. It's only 4 years since they corrected their shitty behavior.

 

[commedieu]

This is the first time i realized he was second.

hah. Shoulda raised his fist too. or just 2 fingers, for prosperity.

 

[PK Gaming]

Damn, what a great read

 

[Jacob]

I knew a little bit about him but not in this much detail. Really great write-up of an incredible story.

Damn, what a great read

Never seen this picture either. Damn.

 

[tearsintherain]

Great read, thanks OP. But did anyone else immediately click on the "Check out this trick to clean your toilet bowls with vinegar!" on the right of the article? had to read through that important life hack first!

(it wasn't that impressive a trick)

 

[PassiveObserver]

Attended SJSU when they put the statue up in the mid 2000s. It was even controversial at the time of the erection, and have since been defaced multiple times. Glad it's up.

Here's a cool photo of Tommie Davis and John Carlos standing next to their towering statues.

 

[mhayes86]

I always wondered why one put up his right hand and the other his left. Now I know. Thanks OP, for the interesting and informative article.

Yeah, it all makes sense now. Great read!

 

[Zoidberg Jesus]

I had never heard of this before, but that was a great story. Thanks for sharing, and Rest In Peace Peter Norman.

 

[Exile20]

Sounds like they should update that statue.

One of the comments

I have no idea if it is true, but according to the Wikipedia page (The entry on Black Power Salute). The statue excluded Norman at his own request because Norman wanted people to stand on that podium themselves and "feel what he felt". If true, that is incredibly powerful.

 

[ThatCrazyGuy]

Thanks OP. Good read.

Australia were a bunch of assholes about this.

 

[brainchild]

Powerful story, thanks for posting it.

 

[mr2xxx]

That was a great emotional read, was getting all misty eyed by the end.

I can't believe he was ostracized for that long and not accepted by his home country, not invited even to the freakin' 2000 Olympics in Sydney by the Australian Olympic Committee? Wow.

It took til 2012 for Australia to truly recognize him....damn.

That was a great read. But yeah waiting that long when you already prominent black athletes in your country is a damn shame.

 

[AtomskEater]

It boggles my mind that Australia NEVER apologized. They had decades to right what wrongs they committed, and waited until after he died to say "oops we did wrong, our bad."

I'll also admit that when I first saw the picture as a kid, I assumed he was annoyed/angry by the black power gesture, even though a) he's not facing them and can't see what they're doing and b) his facial expression is pretty neutral. I feel pretty bad about my assumption that every white guy in the photo must not have approved. Norman sounds like a great guy who put up with a lot of shit for daring to believe in equality.

 

[shink]

Damn only apologised in 2012.

 

[Mixolydian]

Fantastic read. What a wonderful man. Touching to read about their bonds. Thanks OP!

 

[Fevaweva]

That was a great read, thanks for sharing!

 

[Rur0ni]

Australia is really fucked up in this situation.

What's race relations like in Australia now?

 

[mantidor]

My only problem and also the reason this is still so controversial is the Black Panthers link. But I do have to be honest I never really read about them besides them being a political group that used violence, but now I do not know if this was people trying to defame them or if its true, and the wikipedia article is long.

Time to read.

 

[Figboy79]

What a beautiful, bittersweet story. It's a shame that it took Australia so long (and after his death), to apologize for the way they treated him.

Ultimately though, this story is about humanity displaying some of it's best traits. All three athletes are an inspiration. I couldn't even at them being pall bearers at Norman's funeral. That was just too much. lol. The stinging in my eyes! The stinging!

 

[beast786]

Heroes all around. Great read

 

[AlphaDragoon]

This was a fantastic read, thanks for posting.

The fact that he stood with them and wouldn't turn his back on his friends or the idea of equality even when Australia acted like douchebags supreme right up until the day he died is really powerful.

 

[Raist]

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/10...the_response_to_his_iconic_black_power_salute

Holy FUCK that guy's a legend. I feel bad for not knowing anything about this until now.

 

[YesNOnoNOYes]

;___;

what a courageous guy.

thanks op.