With Drawn Arms (2020)
The untold human story behind the most powerful protest gesture in Olympic history, and the two men who changed sports forever.
With Drawn Arms - Movie Information
- Original Title: With Drawn Arms
- Release Year: 2020
- Directed by: Glenn Kaino, Afshin Shahidi
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 1h 23m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Production Countries: United States of America
With Drawn Arms - Plot
The story behind a critical moment in American history, spawning one of most iconic images of protest from the past century. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, the world watched as two American runners, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, took the stage as the U.S. national anthem played, raising their fists in a symbol of black struggle and solidarity.
With Drawn Arms - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the story of a gesture that shook the world:
One Symbol for Us All
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With Drawn Arms - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Glenn Kaino
- Afshin Shahidi
Main Cast
- Tommie Smith
- Megan Rapinoe
- Jesse Williams
- Jemele Hill
- John Lewis
- Nelson George
- John Carlos
Producers
- Glen Zipper
- Sean M. Stuart
With Drawn Arms - FAQs
What is With Drawn Arms about?
With Drawn Arms tells the story behind one of the most iconic protest images in history. It revisits the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists on the podium during the U.S. national anthem, turning a medal ceremony into a defining act of resistance for Black civil rights.
What did the raised fist gesture mean at the 1968 Olympics?
The raised fists were a deliberate symbol of Black struggle, unity, and solidarity. Smith raised his right fist and Carlos his left, together forming a single arch. They also wore black gloves, beads, and no shoes to protest poverty and racial injustice, making the gesture a carefully composed statement rather than a spontaneous act.
Where can you stream With Drawn Arms?
You can watch With Drawn Arms on the Brown Sugar Amazon Channel via subscription, or rent and buy it on Google Play Movies and YouTube. It's also available to stream for free on Plex Channel, making it pretty easy to find across a range of platforms.
What happened to Tommie Smith and John Carlos after the protest?
Both athletes were suspended from the U.S. Olympic team and expelled from the Olympic Village almost immediately after the ceremony. Back home, they faced intense backlash, death threats, and struggled professionally for years. Decades later, history vindicated them, and they are now widely celebrated as civil rights heroes.
Who appears in With Drawn Arms?
Alongside Tommie Smith and John Carlos themselves, the documentary features a compelling lineup of voices including soccer star Megan Rapinoe, actor Jesse Williams, sports journalist Jemele Hill, civil rights icon John Lewis, and cultural critic Nelson George, each connecting the 1968 protest to ongoing conversations about race and activism.
Is With Drawn Arms worth watching?
Absolutely. Critics praised With Drawn Arms for going beyond the iconic image to explore the human cost and lasting legacy of Smith and Carlos's protest. The film weaves together archival footage and contemporary voices to deliver a moving, timely meditation on athletic activism and racial justice in America.
Who directed With Drawn Arms?
With Drawn Arms was co-directed by Glenn Kaino, a conceptual artist known for exploring social justice through his work, and Afshin Shahidi, a photographer and filmmaker celebrated for his long collaboration with Prince. Their combined artistic sensibilities give the documentary a visually distinctive and emotionally resonant quality.
How does With Drawn Arms connect to modern athlete activism?
The film draws a direct line from Smith and Carlos's 1968 gesture to contemporary athlete protests, including Colin Kaepernick's kneeling and Megan Rapinoe's advocacy. It frames the 1968 podium moment as the origin point of a long tradition of athletes using their platforms to challenge systemic racism and demand social change.
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