CAN Takes a Knee
Muhammad Ali’s historical refusal to participate in the Vietnam War, roundly denouncing US imperialism abroad and racism at home, was more than simply a landmark moment in sports history; it was a socially transformative event that further legitimized dissent against the war effort. A short while later, the Black Power salute given at the 1968 Olympics, when U.S. track-and-field stars John Carlos and Tommy Smith raised their fists during the US national anthem, also to protest the war in Vietnam,…