Tommie Smith
Keynote Speaker: World Record Breaking Gold Medal Olympian & Civil Rights Icon Famous for Black Power Salute at the Olympics
-
Travels From:
-
Speaking Fee:
-
Categories:
Tommie Smith Biography
Tommie Smith began life quietly, born to Richard and Dora Smith on June 6, 1944 in Clarksville, Texas the seventh of 12 children. Smith survived a life-threatening bout of pneumonia as an infant which allowed him to carry out the work that God intended for him. Today, his historic achievements make him a nationally and internationally distinguished figure in African American history. He is the only man in the history of track and field to hold eleven world records simultaneously.
During the historical 19th Olympiad in Mexico City in the summer of 1968, Smith broke the world and Olympic record with a time of 19.83 seconds and became the 200-meter Olympic champion. As the Star-Spangled Banner played in the wind at the Mexico City Summer Olympic Games, Smith and teammate John Carlos stood on the victory podium, draped with their Olympic medals, each raised a clinched fist covered in a black leather glove in a historic stand for Black power, liberation, and solidarity. This courageous, unexpected worldwide event propelled Smith into the spotlight as a human rights spokesman, activist, and symbol of African American pride at home and abroad. Cheered by some, jeered by others, and ignored by many more, Smith made a commitment to dedicate his life, even at great personal risk to champion the cause of oppressed people.
Dr. Smith completed his autobiography entitled “Silent Gesture” published by Temple University Press in January 2007, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the literary category Autobiography and Biography. The story of the “Silent Gesture” is captured for all time in the 1999 HBO TV documentary: "Fists of Freedom".
Smith’s courageous leadership, exceptional talent, and dedication to activism have earned him widespread recognition and numerous accolades. Among his many honors, he was inducted into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Legend Hall of Fame and featured in publications such as Sports Illustrated, Ebony, TIME, and Newsweek. From 1969 to 1971, he played for the Cincinnati Bengals before being inducted into the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1978. Smith contributed to the sport as part of the coaching staff for the 1995 World Indoor Championship team in Barcelona, Spain. His impact was further recognized with inductions into the California Black Sports Hall of Fame (1996), the Bay Area Hall of Fame (1999), and the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame (1999). In 1999, he also received the prestigious Sportsman of the Millennium Award. From 2000 to 2001, both the County of Los Angeles and the State of Texas honored him with Commendation, Recognition, and Proclamation Awards. Additionally, the French Government named a gymnasium and a Youth Sports House in Paris in his honor. "With Drawn Arms," a documentary that uncovers his legacy, was an official selection at the Hamptons International and Tribeca Film Festivals.
Since the 19th Olympiad, Smith has built a distinguished career as a coach, educator, and activist, continuing to inspire future generations. After 37 years of teaching and educating children, 27 of which were spent as a faculty member at Santa Monica College, he retired in 2005 but continues to travel throughout various European and Asian nations, conducting seminars, clinics and delivering speeches in those locations, as well as on domestic college campuses.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Tommie Smith and other top speakers and celebrities.
Tommie Smith Videos
How do I book Tommie Smith to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tommie Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tommie Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Tommie Smith for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Tommie Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Tommie Smith are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tommie Smith, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Tommie Smith speak about?
Tommie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Civil Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Activism, Athlete, Olympic Athlete, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Professors, Social Justice, Anti-Racism, Culture and Sports.
Where does Tommie Smith travel from?
Tommie Smith generally travels from Stone Mountain, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Tommie Smith?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Tommie Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tommie Smith for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Tommie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Civil Rights, Diversity & Inclusion and Social Activism. The estimated speaking fee range to book Tommie Smith for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Tommie Smith generally travels from Stone Mountain, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Minnijean Brown Trickey, Bakari Sellers and Ijeoma Oluo. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Tommie Smith for an upcoming event.
VIDEO
Tommie Smith Videos
REVIEWS
Tommie Smith Reviews
-
Amazing speaker!!
The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln - Jan 30 2023 -
Canopius Insurance - Feb 25 2021
-
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University - Feb 04 2019
NEWS
Tommie Smith News
-
Colin Kaepernick Meets With Iconic Activist Athlete Tommie Smith ...
The quarterback recently met with the 200-meter Olympic gold medalist who at 24 gave a Black Power salute on the 1968 Summer Games podium.
-
Tommie Smith, John Carlos and the 1968 Black Power protest ...
Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising black gloved fists at the 1968 Olympic Games became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century.
FAQS
-
How do I book Tommie Smith to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Tommie Smith for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Tommie Smith, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Tommie Smith for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Tommie Smith, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Tommie Smith are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tommie Smith, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Tommie Smith speak about?
Tommie Smith is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Civil Rights, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Activism, Athlete, Olympic Athlete, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Professors, Social Justice, Anti-Racism, Culture and Sports. -
Where does Tommie Smith travel from?
Tommie Smith generally travels from Stone Mountain, GA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Tommie Smith?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Tommie Smith for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Tommie Smith for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Tommie Smith or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
LISTS
BOOK TOMMIE SMITH
We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.
Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.
We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.
We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.
Gauge Interest and check availability for appearances, speaking engagements, or corporate events.
Provide you with speaking fee to book Tommie Smith or other celebrity appearance fees
Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities
Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
