At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City , two American track and field athletes , Tommie Smith and John Carlos , who finished first and third in the 200 meters , performed the Black Power salute on the victory stand .
At the 1968 Summer Olympics , in Mexico City , two American track and field athletes , Tommie Smith and John Carlos , who finished first and third in the 200 meter sprint race , performed the Black Power salute on the podium .