October 18 Birthday
On October 18, 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics, American sprinters Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze) stood on the medal podium and raised their black-gloved fists during "The Star-Spangled Banner." They wore black socks and no shoes, symbolizing Black poverty. Smith wore a black scarf; Carlos unzipped his jacket, a violation of Olympic protocol. The International Olympic Committee expelled them from the Games. They received death threats and struggled for years. Peter Norman, the Australian silver medalist, wore a human rights badge in solidarity. He was not selected for the 1972 Olympics. When Norman died in 2006, Smith and Carlos were his pallbearers. People born on October 18 fall under the zodiac sign of Libra. The birthstone is Opal and the birth flower is Marigold. Historical events on October 18 include 1867: US formally takes possession of Alaska from Russia ($7.2 million transfer ceremony), 1968: Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise fists at Olympics (Black Power salute), 1898: United States takes control of Puerto Rico from Spain. Famous people born on October 18 include Chuck Berry (1926), George C. Scott (1927), Freida Pinto (1984).