Before the Eyes of the World: Mexico and the 1968 Olympic Games

If you have even a mild interest in world history events and/or sports history this is a terrific read. An excellent book that brings together the contributions of individual histories that led up to the Mexico City Olympics. The book overviews: 1) Mexico’s plan and eventual success at being awarded the 1968 Olympics and the aftermath; 2) the Olympic history of wading into politics and apartheid; 3) the Tlatelolco protest and massacre of Mexican students; 4) the Fist Salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos and how they paid for that moment; and 5) the history of blacks athletes in sports before, after and during the Olympics. The reader is instantly engaged because the author, not only writes extremely well (making this a fantastic read) but also organizes the information in a way that helps the reader follow the events easily. Stories of each of the above are presented as part of a large tapestry of the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Unlike other books with multiple stories that tell a single story in a single chapter then moves on hoping that the reader remembers all the facts; this author gives information on each story; moves on to another story then returns to each story adding in information from the other stories. The author never lets the reader lose sight of the complex picture. An excellent example of: See the forest, now see the tree; now see the forest again. I hope this author has tenure, I would take a class from this author any day.

Kevin Witherspoon has captured the essence of this historical event in succinct and captivating terms. His writing is clear, readible, and enjoyble, while being informative. I found the history of the Olympics and how it came to be in Mexico City especially interesting. Most of us who saw this Olympics remember it mostly for the two Americans with their bowed heads and raised black-gloved fists. Witherspoon gives greater perspective to the meaning behind that one snapshot in time. A good read, worth your time and investment, with hoepfully more to come from this aspiring and gifted sports historian.

Good chronicle of the lead up of the 1968 summer games.More about the goings on more than 1st 2nd and 3rd place.