The world could not ignore the gloved salute of Black Power on the Podium at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. African American Civil Rights was making history at the world wide sporting event which represents the unity of North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
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Of the three men standing there that day, little was known about the 26-year-old Australian silver medallist – Peter Norman. Referred to as "the white guy on the podium", the Australian Olympic sprinter, teacher and member of the Salvation Army was acutely aware of the impact that Martin Luther King's death had on his fellow competitors. This paralleled the Australian's human rights agenda, whose country 12 months prior had held a referendum for Aboriginies' right to vote.
Norman stood in alliance with Tommie Smith and John Carlos as they held their fists high. It was seen at the time "a black man's, protest against the racial discrimination in the USA". It is now known that Norman said to Smith and Carlos "What can I do to be a part of this? How can I help?"
The National Museum has announced the recent procurement of the singlet worn by Peter Norman on that day. It was bought for $40,000 plus the buyer's premium, from a private collector via a Melbourne auction house.
The museum has yet to determine where it will be displayed, however curator Joanne Bach stated "We expected it to be very popular". Asked whether the "Olympic Project for Human Rights" badge that was given to Norman by Smith and Carlos was also on the singlet, Ms Bach said it was not. "We don't know where that is."
The singlet is signed "Peter Norman/200m/Mexico/1968".
Norman was immediately sent home after the podium event. Whilst it was never publicly admitted, he was black-banned from the 1972 Olympics in Munich where he had qualified for two events on a number of occasions. As an athlete he ranked fifth in the world and after the ban decided to quit the sport.
Most of the recognition for Norman's role in the Civil Rights movement took place after his death in 2006. MP Andrew Leigh put forward a motion in 2012 for a public apology. The motion was tabled and is now a part of the Hansard Record.
Controversy at the time had focused around the idea that Norman's athletic achievement's had become redundant in comparison to the backlash from the protest. Norman disagreed: "I have to confess, I was rather proud to be part of it."
Peter Norman's nephew, Matt Norman has produced a film, For the Record, the story behind the image: SALUTE. His production company continues his uncle's legacy and the fight for justice and human rights with other films such as Scab Girl Asylum and Shackle, a film about Australian mental health institute violations in the 1950s.