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by _rknLA
3909 days ago
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> Finally, the article is also wrong to call Norman the biggest hero on the podium. Completely agree with this. It seems to recenter the conversation away from the (black) folks who were taking the initiative to praise the (white) person acting in solidarity. |
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Social activism is not a contest. Every action matters. It is not for me to judge how difficult it is for you to do such-and-such a thing, and whether overcoming those difficulties is “heroic.”
Peter Norman’s actions are turning out to be even more important in hindsight than they were at the time, in part because the focus at the time was on the black men on the podium, so their stories have already been told.
When he passed away, there was more attention paid to his story, and thus his actions reach through the decades and helping to change minds today. That’s amazing, and wonderful.
I need not try to compare this to how much the other men have suffered or accomplished to take of my cap and stand in wonder and appreciation.