December 1967

Front-Page News: The Boycott Becomes A Major Issue

T&FN Editors React

• Editor Cordner Nelson
• Publisher Bert Nelson
• Managing Editor Dick Drake

Outside Reaction To The Boycott

edited by Dick Drake
The following collection of opinions concerning the proposed boycott of the 1968 Olympics by US Negroes taken from letters and conversations as well as new paper editorials, columns and articles represents only a small portion of the reaction expressed. The comments have been subdivided into 5 categories:

1. Negro Olympic Contenders

2. Former Athletes

3. Officials, Coaches, White Athletes

4. Fans, Readers, Reporters

5. “Fan Mail" Received by Tommie & Lee

The last group represents less than 10% of the more than 200 letters received by December 15 [1967] by Tommie Smith and Lee Evans. Of the more than 100 letters loaned to T&FN to read, 90% were "hate" letters. T&FN received permission to reprint these letters, anonymously, but many were considered too objectionable to be reprinted in these pages.

For further reader reaction see the letters from January 1968.