# Black Power Fist: Left or Right Handed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393 "2005-03-20T05:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393/1 "2005-03-20T05:25:07Z")
My roommate and I were disputing whether the black power symbol was a raised left fist, or simply a raised fist (no matter if its right or left). ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393/2 "2005-03-20T05:26:32Z")
The only picture I can remember and more or less picture in my mind, is the one where the guys are at the olympics… I think they used right hand. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393/3 "2005-03-20T05:49:13Z")
You are probably right. My roommate was correct. I’m not that bright, and I bask in the glory of his brilliance. I should thank my lucky stars to be in the presence of such intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393/4 "2005-03-20T05:54:52Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > The only picture I can remember and more or less picture in my mind, is the one where the guys are at the olympics… I think they used right hand. Actually, [they went both ways](http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/12916/mcms.html), possibly becuase they were sharing one pair of gloves. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393/5 "2005-03-20T06:18:20Z")
> [@dnooman](#): > > You are probably right. My roommate was correct. I’m not that bright, and I bask in the glory of his brilliance. I should thank my lucky stars to be in the presence of such intelligence. You dirty bastard. That’s the last time I let you type a question for me. If the left hand was never specified as the only hand for the " black power" salute, I lose. We’ve both seen both hands being used in context, so there may or may not be a period issue here. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393/6 "2005-03-20T06:57:37Z")
BTW, any cites proving either theory would be appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-power-fist-left-or-right-handed/295393/7 "2005-03-20T07:36:27Z")
Actually, **Bryan** , they did share a pair of gloves, but few people realize that there was [additional symbolic meaning behind their raised fists.](http://www.infoplease.com/spot/mm-mexicocity.html) > [@](#): > > [Tommie] Smith later told the media that he raised his \*\*right, black-glove-covered \*\* fist in the air \*\*to represent black power in America \*\* while [John] Carlos’ **left, black-covered fist represented unity in black America**. Together they formed an arch of unity and power. The black scarf around Smith’s neck stood for black pride and their black socks (and no shoes) represented black poverty in racist America. It’s worth noting that afro picks sold in the seventies with the black power salute are all [right handed.](http://www.bubblestheartist.com/basement/afropick.htm) WARNING: link has annoying blaxpolitation MIDI blaring. Maybe Bob Marley. [Black Panther Party members](http://www.houseofnubian.com/id-1343/ImgUpload/N_H0103_1271912.JPG) execute right handed salutes. By the 1980s I think most young black Americans would lead use their right hands unless they were left handed. I recall people doing that to “Pump Your Fist” at a Kool Moe Dee concert in Atlanta at Jack the Rapper in 1987 and also in the Spike Lee 1989 Public Enemy Fight The Power video.