I believe in civil rights. Every man is born equal and should be treated as human.
Peter Norman
What we do to our native Australians, our own indigenous people, is nothing short of horrific.
You grow through the conflict and you emerge together. I think that's what the Olympics are all about.
My attitude was, they'd earned the right to do what they thought they had to do with their one square metre of Olympic dais, and I was glad they were doing it, and glad I was with them.
I think most Australians would favor what I did. At least I hope they do.
I always had my views on racial tolerance. I couldn't see why anyone would dislike or to the nth degree hate someone simply because they were a different color.
I won a silver medal. But really, I ended up running the fastest race of my life to become part of something that transcended the Games.
I believe every man is born equal.
It has been said that sharing my silver medal with that incident on the victory dais detracted from my performance. On the contrary. I have to confess, I was rather proud to be part of it.
The raised arm and the clenched hand was a symbol of unity with the fingers coming together and a symbol of strength. It was never - I don't believe it was ever meant as a threatening gesture.
I couldn't see why a black man wasn't allowed to drink out of the same water fountain or sit in the same bus or go to the same schools as a white guy.
