A review by katymul
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

This book has racked up the non-fiction awards from the American Library Association, and it's easy to see why. The powerful visuals and narration weave together so many different elements of racism, the world of sport, and family and community until each panel feels inextricable of the whole. The famous image of the Olympian athletes raising their fist in protest on the Olympic podium becomes even more rich an image as you learn of their origins, their struggles, their battles with institutional racism, their families and loves and attempts to organize before the Games. The moment, when it finally arrives, feels deeply personal as well as symbolic and powerful. 

None of the extended metaphors of the book (like depicting the struggles intercut with the race itself) are overused. Every element from art to narration to dialogue is perfectly calibrated and effective. This is an impressive work of art and history.