Descriptive feature
Guarded by a half-circle of garbage bins and cushioned with
plush tall standing trees, a powerful righteous statue of 1968 Olympic winners
of Tommie Smith and John Carlos lies in the middle.
Positioned in the heart of San Jose State University, the two
alumni figures forcefully distracts traveler’s eyes to the spirited monument.
The bold cobalt blue mosaic tiles organically shape the two
figures with one or two majestically glistening bright blue as the sun travels
along them.
Wilted yet still full of life, stems of flowers are
scattered along the base and of the bare feet that these statues stand tall on.
With their closed fists of power towards the sky, and their
solemn heads bowing down, their shadows travel as the sun migrates leaving only
two times in the day of theirs shadows coming together showing unity.
A previous vigil of an unlit candle inconspicuously placed next
to the trademark Puma shoes, showing that this statue is not forgotten.
As Carlos’ statue stands with his jacket zipped and eyes
closed, Smith numbly stares in the ground as his jacket is open and colorful
tiles representing beads that circles low from his neck.
The third-place winner pillar stands empty for an invitation
to those who take unity of solidarity with the statues.
“Take a Stand” it reads, take a stand.
