Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice

Book Synopsis: Winner of the 2023 YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction AwardFinalist for the 2022 National Book Award for Young People's LiteratureA Coretta Scott King Award Author and Illustrator Honor BookA Washington Post Best Book of the YearA Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the YearA Publishers Weekly Best Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the YearA Booklist Best Book of the YearA Horn Book Fanfare Title

On October 16, 1968, during the medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie Smith, the gold medal winner in the 200-meter sprint, and John Carlos, the bronze medal winner, stood on the podium in black socks and raised their black-gloved fists to protest racial injustice inflicted upon African Americans. Both men were forced to leave the Olympics, received death threats, and faced ostracism and continuing economic hardships.

In his first-ever memoir for young readers, Tommie Smith looks back on his childhood growing up in rural Texas through to his stellar athletic career, culminating in his historic victory and Olympic podium protest. Cowritten with Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Honor recipient Derrick Barnes and illustrated with bold and muscular artwork from Emmy Award–winning illustrator Dawud Anyabwile, Victory. Stand! paints a stirring portrait of an iconic moment in Olympic history that still resonates today. Black-and-white illustrations throughout.