Tommie Smith

Smith and Carlos' act of rebellion made millions of television viewers aware of civil rights issues. Smith told Maher that his protest helped pave the way for other civil rights and social changes, including Title IX, a groundbreaking federal law that mandated that female athletes be given opportunity and funding equal to that given to males.

As Zinser noted, although racism is still present in American society, many African American athletes take the money they are offered and do not take the risk of making potentially controversial political or social statements. For example she wrote that golfer Tiger Woods"tolerates discriminatory country clubs." Basketball player Michael Jordan, who "had the biggest stage of any athlete ever … used it to advance nothing other than his legend and his bank account." Few athletes now take the risk of losing money, in favor of political or social action. Although Smith was reviled at the time for his action, now he is widely recognized for his integrity. As Zinser wrote, he and Carlos "took the risk because of what they believed. It took unimaginable courage."