Global sporting events have often been the ground for contentious political statements. Given their magnanimity, they provide the ideal platform to spread a message. In 1968, athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists during the national anthem in a black power salute. They aimed to turn the world’s attention to racial inequality and got a lot of mixed reactions at the time for doing so. Another popular footballer who stood against the racial divide was Colin Kaepernick.