Plot summary, “Something in the Air” by Richard Hoffer in 5 Minutes - Book Review
0"Something in the Air: American Passion and Defiance in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics" is a history book written by American sports journalist Richard Hoffer. Published in 2009, the book focuses on the events and individuals surrounding the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, with a particular emphasis on the efforts of African American athletes to use the Games as a platform for civil rights protest.
The central figures in the book are sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who famously gave a black power salute on the medal podium after placing first and third, respectively, in the 200m final. Hoffer explores the origins of this iconic moment by tracing the experiences and activism of these athletes prior to the Olympics.
The narrative begins at San Jose State University, also known as "Speed City," where track coach Bud Winter recruited talented black athletes, including Smith and Carlos. Among them was Harry Edwards, a discus thrower and civil rights activist who organized a group called the Olympic Project for Human Rights. Edwards proposed that African American athletes boycott the Games, arguing that their participation would only serve as a form of exploitation. He highlighted the racial inequalities within American sports and society at large.
However, Edwards faced resistance and pressure from various sources, including the US government. Despite his efforts, it became clear that the US team would field its black athletes. The summer of 1968 was marked by political turbulence, including the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and protests in various parts of the world.
Against this backdrop, Smith and Carlos made their defiant gesture on the medal podium, raising their fists in a black power salute. Hoffer describes the symbolism behind their actions, including the unity and poverty represented by their raised fists and bare feet. The media and the International Olympic Committee reacted with anger, resulting in Smith and Carlos being sent home in disgrace.
Hoffer also explores other notable events that occurred during the 1968 Olympics, including Bob Beamon's record-breaking long jump, Dick Fosbury's high jump technique known as the "Fosbury flop," and George Foreman's victory in boxing.
In "Something in the Air," Hoffer presents the 1968 Olympics as a defining moment in the intersection of sports and politics, specifically in terms of the political consciousness it instilled in Olympic athletes. The book sheds light on the courage and determination of Smith and Carlos, as well as the wider sociopolitical context of the time.