Victory Salute (statue)

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Coordinates: 37°20′08″N 121°52′57″W / 37.335495°N 121.882563°W / 37.335495; -121.882563
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Victory Salute
ArtistRigo 23
Year2005
MediumBronze Sautes covered in a fiberglass mosaic
SubjectTommie Smith and John Carlos
Dimensions6.7 m (22 ft)
LocationSan Jose, California, United States
Coordinates37°20′08″N 121°52′57″W / 37.335495°N 121.882563°W / 37.335495; -121.882563
OwnerSan Jose State University

Victory Salute, commonly referred to as the Olympic Black Power Statue, is a monument depicting the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute performed by African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos. The monument consists of two bronze statues covered in a fiberglass mosaic, atop a concrete base designed to emulate the Olympic podium. It was created in 2005 by Portuguese artist Rigo 23 and is installed next to Tower Hall on the San Jose State University campus, in San Jose, California, United States.

History[edit]

The photo recreated by Victory Salute

In 1968, as members of San Jose State's Speed City era of athletics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. After earning gold and bronze medals respectively, the duo raised a Black Power salute while "The Star-Spangled Banner" played, which became one of the most defining acts of protest of the civil rights movement.[1][2][3]

In Spring 2003, San Jose State student, Erik Grotz, initiated a project to honor Smith and Carlos at their alma mater; "One of my professors was talking about unsung heroes and he mentioned Tommie Smith and John Carlos. He said these men had done a courageous thing to advance civil rights, and, yet, they had never been honored by their own school.".[4] Grotz worked with Department of Art Chair, Dr. Robert Milnes to create a mock-up to pitch to the University's Associated Students board, who approved the project and began fundraising.[5] On October 16, 2003, the 35th anniversary of the protest, Portugese artist Rigo 23 was announced to be the sculptor for the project.[5]

Victory Salute was completed in 2005, with the unveiling drawing hundreds in attendance on October 18, 2005. A discussion was panel held featuring Smith and Carlos, as well as silver-medalist Peter Norman, fellow Speed City era sprinter Lee Evans, and head coach Payton Jordan.[6] Additional speeches were given by vice-mayor of San Jose Cindy Chavez, San Jose State President Don W. Kassing, and actor Delroy Lindo, followed by honorary doctorate degrees awarded to Smith and Carlos.[7][8] The statue was unveiled during a performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner", mirroring the original protest.[7]

In January 2007, History San Jose opened a new exhibit called Speed City: From Civil Rights to Black Power, covering the San Jose State athletic program. The exhibit focused on the San Jose State athletic program, highlighting how many student athletes from the Speed city program gained global recognition during Civil Rights and Black Power movements.[9]

In 2022, San Jose State students and faculty embedded Victory Salute into their Public Art as Resistance project.[10][11]

Design[edit]

A closeup of the John Carlos portion of the statue

Victory Salute was Rigo 23's first-ever sculpture, but wanted the statue to be a "labor of love". In order to correctly sculpt the musculature, he took 3D full-body scans of Smith and Carlos.[12] Rigo 23's signature is on the back of Smith's shoe, and the year 2005 is on Carlos' shoe.

The statues' faces were rendered realistically and with emphasis placed on the emotion of the athletes. They were constructed from fiberglass over steel supports and covered with ceramic tiles, their track pants and jackets form a mosaic of dark blue ceramic tiles, with red and white detailing on the stripes of the track suits.[13]

Peter Norman was intentionally occluded from the monument, which Norman himself requested so that visitors could participate by standing in his place, and feeling what he felt.[14][15] There is a plaque in the empty spot which reads "Fellow Athlete Australian Peter Norman Stood Here in Solidarity Take a Stand".

Use as protest space[edit]

Due to Victory Salute depicting an act of protest during the civil rights movement, as well as its proximity to San Jose City Hall (less than 0.3 miles away), the statue and its surrounding lawn have been focal points for protests in San Jose.

2020 Black Lives Matter protests[edit]

On June 5, 2020, after the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests, a protest was held at Victory Salute with protestors raising their fists, mirroring the 1968 protest.[16] On September 1 of that year, San Jose State student athletes organized a protest which started with the athletes giving speeches given at Victory Salute, followed by a march to the City Hall.[17]

2024 pro-Palestine protests and encampment[edit]

The 2024 pro-Palestine encampment surrounding Victory Salute

On October 12, 2023, after the Hamas-led attack on Israel and subsequent Israel–Hamas war, the San Jose State chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine organized a protest consisting of speeches given at Victory Salute, followed by a march around the campus.[18]

In April 2024, following the campus occupation at Columbia University, student protestors began demanding that San Jose State divest from Israel over its alleged genocide of Palestinians. The university's Associated Students board unanimously adopted a measure to boycott Silicon Valley companies active in pro-Israeli activity on April 24.[19]

Protests continued on campus,[20] when on May 13, an encampment was established on the lawn around Victory Salute.[21][22][23] One of the encampment's demands was the firing of history professor Johnathan Roth after a physical altercation between himself and a pro-Palestine protestor in February 2024.[24] On May 14, the University communicated with the protestors about their demands but asserted that the encampment had to be disbanded before finals began on May 15.[25][26] Additionally, the University released a statement signed by Tommie Smith, John Carlos, activist Harry Edwards, and activist Ken Noel which expressed disapproval of the encampment around Victory Salute.[27] Rigo 23 supported the released a statement supporting the encampment and gave a speech at the encampment.[27]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "1968: Black athletes make silent protest" (PDF). SJSU. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  2. ^ "1968: Black athletes make silent protest". BBC. 17 October 1968. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  3. ^ Slot, Owen (2024-10-19). "America finally honours rebels as clenched fist becomes salute". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  4. ^ "Black Power Olympic Statue by Andy Lopušnak Photography". PBase. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  5. ^ a b Barbassa, Juliana. "San Jose State Students Want Statue". Midland Daily News. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  6. ^ Beitpolous, Ilbra (2005-10-18). "Panel revisits '68 Olympics". Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications). 125 (30): 1.
  7. ^ a b Beacham, Greg (2005-10-18). "Statue honors stand at 1968 Olympics". East Bay Times. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  8. ^ Cheeto, Barrera (2005-10-18). "'Fists of Freedom' Raised over SJSU". Spartan Daily (School of Journalism and Mass Communications). 125 (30): 1, 4.
  9. ^ "Speed City: From Civil Rights to Black Power". History San José. July 28, 2005. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  10. ^ "Victory Salute | Public Art as Resistance in San Jose". www.sjsu.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  11. ^ "Public Art as Resistance in San José: A Walking Tour". humanitiesforall.org. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  12. ^ Biela, Sara. "Beyond Bronze". sjsunews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  13. ^ Crumpacker, John. "OLYMPIC PROTEST: Smith and Carlos / Statue captures sprinters' moment / San Jose State honors protest of oppression". SFGATE. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  14. ^ "Part 2: John Carlos, 1968 U.S. Olympic Medalist, On the Response to His Iconic Black Power Salute". Democracy Now!. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2015. I would like to have a blank spot there and have a commemorative plaque stating that I was in that spot. But anyone that comes thereafter from around the world and going to San Jose State that support the movement, what you guys had in '68, they could stand in my spot and take the picture.
  15. ^ "The Story Behind The Missing Man". Bartold Clinical. 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  16. ^ Group, Shayna Rubin | Bay Area News (2020-06-14). "SJSU athletes raise awareness, money in unique protest against police brutality". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  17. ^ "San Jose State University athletes organize Black Lives Matter solidarity walk in Downtown San Jose - ABC7 San Francisco". web.archive.org. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  18. ^ "San Jose State University students rally for Palestine". Fight Back! News. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  19. ^ "Resolution in Support of Boycott From Companies That Have Been Involved in the Human Rights Violations in Palestine" (PDF). San Jose State Associated Students. April 24, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Students protest on Smith & Carlos lawn". Spartan Daily, 2024. 162 (43): 1. 2024-05-09.
  21. ^ Peters, LaMonica (2024-05-13). "Pro-Palestinian protesters stage sit-in at San Jose State University". KTVU FOX 2. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  22. ^ "SJSU Sit-In in Solidarity with Palestine". Indybay. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  23. ^ "San Jose State students set up pro-Palestine encampment, but school warns it must come down". The Mercury News. 2024-05-14. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  24. ^ Goldberg; Noah (2024-02-26). "San José State University puts professor on leave over altercation with pro-Palestine student". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  25. ^ Cannestra, B. Sakura (2024-05-15). "San Jose State students stage protest and call for divestment". San José Spotlight. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  26. ^ Ta, Alina (May 16, 2024). "San José State University administration responds to encampment". sjsunews.com. Spartan Daily. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  27. ^ a b Henkes-Power, Kaya (May 16, 2024). "Smith and Carlos confirm disapproval of encampment in email". sjsunews.com. Spartan Daily. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
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