That little white guy...

It was one of those moments frozen in history that are indelibly stamped in time. I'm talking about the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City in which Tommie Smith and John Carlos when, at the awarding of their medals on the podiums during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner, raised their fist in a black power salute in silent protest against racism in the US. Smith and Carlos were sent home the next day by the US Olympic Committee.

What we Americans don't pay attention to is the little guy on the left. His name was Peter Norman, an Australian, and he played a part in supporting this moment, knowing of it in advance and helping in the execution by suggesting the pair of gloves that Smith and Carlos are wearing (which why one has his left fist up and the other his right).

The three of them remained friends since that fateful day.

Mr Norman passed away yesterday at the age of 64.

I've always held the belief that great moments in history are made up a thousand little stories. Mostly untold. Mostly unknown. And mostly unsung. Even Mr Norman was censured by the Olympic Committee for his part in the protest.

I do wonder if I've ever contributed to such a moment, even in a small way.

Guess I'll never know.

But I know about Mr Norman now.

- Farmer Ted