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Tommie Smith

Speaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker Rating
5 out of 5

World Record Breaking Gold Medal Olympian & Civil Rights Icon Famous for Black Power Salute at the Olympics

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Tommie Smith Biography

Tommie Smith began life quietly, born to Richard and Dora Smith on June 6, 1944 in Clarksville, Texas the seventh of 12 children. Smith survived a life-threatening bout of pneumonia as an infant which allowed him to carry out the work that God intended for him. Today, his historic achievements make him a nationally and internationally distinguished figure in African American history. He is the only man in the history of track and field to hold eleven world records simultaneously.

During the historical 19th Olympiad in Mexico City in the summer of 1968, Smith broke the world and Olympic record with a time of 19.83 seconds and became the 200-meter Olympic champion. As the Star-Spangled Banner played in the wind at the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games, Smith and John Carlos stood on the victory podium, draped with their Olympic medals, each raised a clinched fist covered in a black leather glove in a historic stand for black power, liberation, and solidarity. This courageous, unexpected worldwide event propelled Smith into the spotlight as a human rights spokesman, activist, and symbol of African American pride at home and abroad. Cheered by some, jeered by others, and ignored by many more, Smith made a commitment to dedicate his life, even at great personal risk to champion the cause of oppressed people. Dr. Smith completed his Autobiography titled “Silent Gesture” published by Temple University Press in January 2007, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the literary category Autobiography and Biography. The story of the “Silent Gesture” is captured for all time in the 1999 HBO TV documentary: "Fists of Freedom".

Smith’s courageous leadership, talent, and activism have earned him well-deserved acclaim and awards. Some highlights are included here: On November 1, 2019, he was inducted into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Legend Hall of Fame; he's been featured in Sports Illustrated, Ebony, Time, and Newsweek; from 1969 to 1971 he played for the Cincinnati Bengals and was inducted in 1978 as a member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame; he was part of the coaching staff of the 1995 World Indoor Championship team in Barcelona, Spain; in 1996 he was inducted into the California Black Sports Hall of Fame; in 1999 he won the Sportsman of the Millennium Award; in 1999 he was inducted into the Bay Area Hall of Fame and the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame; from 2000 to 2001 the County of Los Angeles and the State of Texas presented Smith with Commendation, Recognition, and Proclamation Awards; and the French Government named a Gymnasium and a Youth Sports House in Paris in his honor. Since the games of the 19th Olympiad, Smith has enjoyed a distinguished career as a coach, educator and activist.

Smith served as a faculty member at Santa Monica College for 27 years, teaching and coaching and serving on academic committees. He has dedicated a total of 37 years to educating and teaching children. In June of 2005 he retired and moved to Georgia, but he continues to travel worldwide giving of himself to all.

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Silent Gesture: The Autobiography of Tommie Smith (Sporting)

Silent Gesture: The Autobiography of Tommie Smith (Sporting)

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FAQs
  • How do I book Tommie Smith to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tommie Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tommie Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Tommie Smith

    Speaking fees for Tommie Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Tommie Smith are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tommie Smith, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Tommie Smith speak about?

    Tommie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Activism, Black History, Diversity Speakers, Football, Olympics, Professors, Social Justice, Sports, Track and Field, University Speakers, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does Tommie Smith travel from?

    Tommie Smith generally travels from Stone Mountain, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Tommie Smith’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Tommie Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tommie Smith for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Tommie Smith

Speaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker RatingSpeaker Rating
5 out of 5

World Record Breaking Gold Medal Olympian & Civil Rights Icon Famous for Black Power Salute at the Olympics

Travels From:
Stone Mountain, GA, USA
Speaking Fee:

Tommie Smith Biography

Tommie Smith began life quietly, born to Richard and Dora Smith on June 6, 1944 in Clarksville, Texas the seventh of 12 children. Smith survived a life-threatening bout of pneumonia as an infant which allowed him to carry out the work that God intended for him. Today, his historic achievements make him a nationally and internationally distinguished figure in African American history. He is the only man in the history of track and field to hold eleven world records simultaneously.

During the historical 19th Olympiad in Mexico City in the summer of 1968, Smith broke the world and Olympic record with a time of 19.83 seconds and became the 200-meter Olympic champion. As the Star-Spangled Banner played in the wind at the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games, Smith and John Carlos stood on the victory podium, draped with their Olympic medals, each raised a clinched fist covered in a black leather glove in a historic stand for black power, liberation, and solidarity. This courageous, unexpected worldwide event propelled Smith into the spotlight as a human rights spokesman, activist, and symbol of African American pride at home and abroad. Cheered by some, jeered by others, and ignored by many more, Smith made a commitment to dedicate his life, even at great personal risk to champion the cause of oppressed people. Dr. Smith completed his Autobiography titled “Silent Gesture” published by Temple University Press in January 2007, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the literary category Autobiography and Biography. The story of the “Silent Gesture” is captured for all time in the 1999 HBO TV documentary: "Fists of Freedom".

Smith’s courageous leadership, talent, and activism have earned him well-deserved acclaim and awards. Some highlights are included here: On November 1, 2019, he was inducted into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Legend Hall of Fame; he's been featured in Sports Illustrated, Ebony, Time, and Newsweek; from 1969 to 1971 he played for the Cincinnati Bengals and was inducted in 1978 as a member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame; he was part of the coaching staff of the 1995 World Indoor Championship team in Barcelona, Spain; in 1996 he was inducted into the California Black Sports Hall of Fame; in 1999 he won the Sportsman of the Millennium Award; in 1999 he was inducted into the Bay Area Hall of Fame and the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame; from 2000 to 2001 the County of Los Angeles and the State of Texas presented Smith with Commendation, Recognition, and Proclamation Awards; and the French Government named a Gymnasium and a Youth Sports House in Paris in his honor. Since the games of the 19th Olympiad, Smith has enjoyed a distinguished career as a coach, educator and activist.

Smith served as a faculty member at Santa Monica College for 27 years, teaching and coaching and serving on academic committees. He has dedicated a total of 37 years to educating and teaching children. In June of 2005 he retired and moved to Georgia, but he continues to travel worldwide giving of himself to all.

Tommie Smith Videos

  • Is Anyone Listening? ft. Tommie Smith, Lewis Hamilton, and Thierry ...
    Is Anyone Listening is an honest and raw conversation about racism between three generations of athlete activists. More than 50 years ago, ...
  • US Olympian Tommie Smith Discusses the 1968 Olympic Games
    United States Olympic Gold Medalist in Track & Field Tommie Smith joins a new episode of #NBATogether with Ernie Johnson. Smith reflects on the...
  • Tommie Smith reflects on iconic Olympic moment

Tommie Smith Books

Speaker Lists Featuring Tommie Smith

FAQs on booking Tommie Smith

  • How do I book Tommie Smith to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tommie Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tommie Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Tommie Smith

    Speaking fees for Tommie Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Tommie Smith are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tommie Smith, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Tommie Smith speak about?

    Tommie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Activism, Black History, Diversity Speakers, Football, Olympics, Professors, Social Justice, Sports, Track and Field, University Speakers, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does Tommie Smith travel from?

    Tommie Smith generally travels from Stone Mountain, GA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Tommie Smith’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Tommie Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tommie Smith for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Tommie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Tommie Smith for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Tommie Smith generally travels from Stone Mountain, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Nikki Giovanni, Renee Montgomery, Tamika D. Mallory, Bakari Sellers and Clayborne Carson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Tommie Smith for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tommie Smith Speaker Videos

  • Is Anyone Listening? ft. Tommie Smith, Lewis Hamilton, and Thierry ...
    Is Anyone Listening is an honest and raw conversation about racism between three generations of athlete activists. More than 50 years ago, ...
    US Olympian Tommie Smith Discusses the 1968 Olympic Games
    United States Olympic Gold Medalist in Track & Field Tommie Smith joins a new episode of #NBATogether with Ernie Johnson. Smith reflects on the powerful moment he and John Carlos shared during the...
  • Tommie Smith reflects on iconic Olympic moment
    Tommie Smith - Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series
  • Tommie Smith & John Carlos: from villains to heroes
    Smith and Carlos, more linked than any two athletes in American history, have lived forever since Mexico City, 47-plus years. They say God brought them together a half century ago for a singular...
    A Conversation With Tommie Smith | Killer Mike
    On January 15th, 2016, Puma and Frank Da Butcher facilitated a meeting between Killer Mike and Olympian/activist Tommie Smith at The SWAG Shop in Atlanta, GA. Tommie Smith was the 1968 Summer...

Tommie Smith News

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Speakers Similar to Tommie Smith

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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