Hide Article Text (OCR)
IDeVere«■:-iWilliamsIOlympic Boycott PlannedAthletes or black revolutionist?This seems to be pertinent question concerning a group of negro athletes threatening a boycott of the 1968 Olympic Games, “to illustrate their feelings of racial injustices.”A group of 50 to 60 athletes and sports figures met in Los Angeles Thursday and unanimously endorsed a boycott. Harry Edwards, a teacher at San Jose State College, spoke for the group, “This is a significant stand because I. know of no other group of people who can make our feelings know.” The meeting was part of a three-day Black Youth conference.It appears that Edwards and his group are taking the exact opposite approach of that which would bring racial harmony to America.The ratio, by enrollment s of Negros participating in athletics, in integrated schools, probably far exceeds that of white athletes. The cheers are just as loud and meaningful for Negros scoring touchdowns at previously all white southern high schools as that for the white stars.How about 0. J. Simpson of Southern Cal or Leroy Keyes of Purdue? They are top collegiate stars of tiie season and are talked about as tremendous A-meriean athletes, not as Negroes.Cassius Clay, another outstanding athelete of our day found no racial barriers on the way to the world championship. He was praised for his fightingability by whites and blacks.The’ fact that our outstanding negro atheletes are accepted so [readily by the white populous : seems indicative of an important step forward toward racial understanding.A large number of Negro 'atheletes are strongly opposed to the boycott. Among these are such greats as world broad jump record holder, Ralph Boston, and Charlie Green, six time NCAA sprint champion, who said, “It comes down to a matter if you’re an American or if you’re not. I’m an Ameri-and I'm going to run.”The great Jesse Owens, who stole the show at the 1936 Berlin Olympics stated, “I deplore the ue of the Olympic Games by certain people for political aggrandizement. There is no place in the athletic world for politics.”The modem Olympic Games were founded to promote interest in educationand culture and tc foster better international understanding through the universal medium of youth’s love of athletics.There is nothing in Olympic records to indicate if an American winner was black or white. He is simply listed as American and appreciated as such.Should this group decide against the boycott, it would seem in the best interest of the United States not to use these people to foster better international understanding. How could we even appreciate Olympic victories by Americans who apparently do not love their country.
Newspaper Details
Florence Morning News
Florence, South Carolina, US
Sat, Nov 25, 1967
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
WV, USA 01 May 2020
Other Publications Near Florence, South Carolina
Florence Morning News
Morning News
Florence Morning News Review
