Celebrating Black History Month 2025

REGISTER HERE 
(limited capacity)
All TMU Students, Staff & Faculty are welcome to attend.

American sprinter John Carlos raised his fist in a powerful protest for civil rights at the 1968 Olympics

In celebration of Black culture and achievement, Toronto Metropolitan University is pleased to honour the legacy of Dr. John Carlos as part of our annual Bold, Beautiful & Brilliant, Black History Month Celebrations. We will host a speaking engagement where Dr. Carlos will share his story and his commitment to human rights and social justice, a story most Canadians are unaware of. Together, we will help keep his courageous story and history alive.

Join us for the 2025 Bold, Beautiful & Brilliant Speaking Engagement

With Olympic Athlete and Activist, Dr. John Carlos

Tuesday, February 4th, 2025; 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Sheldon & Tracy Levy Student Learning Centre (SLC) - 8th Floor

Jen McMillen, Vice-Provost, Students at TMU will kick off the event with opening remarks from the University followed by Mark Stoddart who will introduce our keynote speaker, Dr. John Carlos. Carlos will share his lifetime commitment to activism followed by a question and answer (Q&A). Closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Tanya De Mello, Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion at TMU followed by a meet and greet and photo opportunity.

Thank you to our University partners:

TMU Students can WIN a limited edition commemorative shirt!

TMSU is offering a free limited edition Dr. John Carlos 57th Anniversary t-shirt custom designed by Toronto-based, artist, designer and activist, Mark Stoddart. The first 200 TMU students to register for the event can pick up their shirt at the event. Just show your OneCard.

About Dr. John Carlos

Dr. John Carlos is an iconic figure in both the world of athletics and social justice. Born on June 5, 1945, in Harlem, New York, Carlos demonstrated exceptional athletic talent from an early age. He attended East Texas State University on a track and field scholarship before transferring to San Jose State University.

Carlos gained international fame at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where he won the bronze medal in the 200 metres. Alongside Tommie Smith, Carlos made a historic statement by raising a black-gloved fist on the victory podium, a powerful gesture in support of human rights. He and Smith also went barefoot on the podium to symbolize economic inequality, and wore beads to evoke the chains and ropes used in racialized lynchings, and to symbolize oppression worldwide. Their protest became known as a defiant statement against systemic oppression and marked a defining moment in the history of civil rights activism. However, their protest on October 16th, 1968 came at great personal cost to the athletes involved. Within hours, they were condemned by the International Olympic Committee. Two days later, they were suspended from the US team and sent home.

October 16th, 2025, marks the 57th anniversary of the silent protest held on the podium at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

Beyond his athletic achievements, John Carlos has dedicated his life to humanitarian efforts and civil rights activism. He has worked with numerous organizations to promote social justice and has been a vocal advocate for equality. Carlos is also the author of "The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World," an autobiography detailing his experiences and impact. Dr. Carlos's contributions have been widely recognized, earning him a place in the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame and numerous awards for his commitment to social justice.

In making a stand against racism on the world's greatest sporting stage, John Carlos’ action was a very public gesture of solidarity with the civil rights movement.  John Carlos’ courage is timeless, and the issues he stood up for in 1968 need continued champions in 2025 and beyond. 

Through TMU’s continued collaboration with Toronto-based, artist, designer and activist, Mark Stoddart, Stoddart approached Dr. John Carlos about sharing his story at a speaking engagement at TMU. Our ambition is to keep history alive by providing TMU students, staff and faculty an opportunity to hear directly from Dr. John Carlos and his lifelong commitment to social justice.  

In 2011, Mark Stoddart collaborated with Dr. John Carlos and designed the John Carlos Collection, a series of hoodies, t-shirts and ball caps that honours his legacy.

About the BOLD, BEAUTIFUL & BRILLIANT (2024) Shirt Design

In 2024, Mark Stoddart also designed the ‘Bold, Beautiful & Brilliant’ t-shirts for TMU Athletics and Recreation. Stoddart is the owner of the company LIWI68.COM, an online store that sells merchandise with the intent to educate, empower and unite. Through the month of February and beyond, the TMU Athletics & Recreation staff members will proudly wear this shirt to celebrate Black History Month. TMU Bold varsity student-athletes will be encouraged to wear the shirt as they warm up at all home and away games in February and beyond. The shirts are available online at LIWI68.COM.

The Bold, Beautiful & Brilliant (2024) shirt was made in collaboration with the TMU Department of Athletics and Recreation and LIWI68’s Mark Stoddart. This t-shirt edition was created as a reminder of the revolutionary work being done daily by artists, activists, individuals, and their communities, and as a reminder that committing to social justice is hard work but also a radical act of love and compassion. When an individual’s growth is nurtured, it extends into their communities and beyond to the wider collective. It is the work of individuals who understand that the revolution must begin within themselves, that it propels them to act, and in turn, form safe communities that work to create collective, healing justice.

Embarking on the Bold, Beautiful & Brilliant journey, we draw inspiration from Mike Yaconelli's wisdom on boldness—a quiet confidence that embodies firmness, fearlessness, and resilience. 

When you say "Bold, Beautiful, and Brilliant" for Black History Month, it evokes a powerful and positive message. The use of ‘Bold' suggests strength, resilience, and confidence. ‘Beautiful’ conveys a celebration of the richness and diversity of Black culture, highlighting the beauty in all its forms, while ‘Brilliant’ is a proud assertion of identity, emphasizing the significance of Black history and contributions. Collectively, the phrase seems to encapsulate empowerment, pride, and a celebration of the unique qualities and achievements within the Black community. It's a rallying call to recognize and appreciate the boldness, beauty, and significance of Black history and culture.

On the front of the shirt is a seed from the Wawa tree, an extremely hard tree. The words ‘Wawa Aba’ literally means “seed”. In Akan culture, one of the traditional matrilineal cultures of Africa, this seed is a symbol of someone who is strong and tough and inspires the individual to persevere through hardship. You will also see the word ‘Wawa’ woven together, framing the text on the back of the shirt.

Within the word ‘Bold’ you will see the Adinkra symbol, Nya Gyidie. Its literal meaning, "faith is the anchor that holds together true bond or love between people”. The symbol is popular amongst the Akan people who live in the southern regions of Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. It is used as a constant reminder that you can still make it through the most turbulent times in your life provided you hold on to hope and not lose sight of what is important.

“For me, Black History Month signifies a time for sharing the enriched history and beauty of the motherland - Africa. By creating a positive and authentic image of Africa, we can begin to embrace the land, the history, and ourselves - its descendants. We can explore within our people's heritage this Black History Month: the pyramid builders, physicians, metaphysicians, alchemists, and mathematicians. Also, the great men and women who are alive today - the athletes, musicians, composers, writers, politicians, and activists.

“I am celebrating with those who continue to make history.” – Mark Stoddart

About the artist, Mark Stoddart

Mark Stoddart, born in the United Kingdom to parents of Jamaican heritage, moved to Canada as a young boy. With a career spanning over three decades as a visual communicator, graphic designer, and painter, Mark continues to present a diverse body of work illustrating the history of Black athletes, entertainers, and public figures. He formally studied through the Interpretive Illustration program at Sheridan College in Oakville.

Mark is the owner of Live It Wear It, an online boutique store that advertises and sells merchandise with the intent to educate, empower and unite. He has collaborated on projects with corporate brands such as Metrolinx, Toronto Raptors, Universal Music, and Nike. His designs have graced the clothing of notable figures, including NFL player Colin Kaepernick, Hip Hop Artist from the rap duo Smif-N-Wessun, General Steele, and Canadian hip-hop artists Maestro Fresh Wes and Kardinal Offishall.

As a mentor to youths in visual literacy programs within the school system and through involvement with community platforms like Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere (R.I.S.E.), Mark consistently leaves a lasting impact within the community.

His artwork has been showcased at prestigious venues such as Nuit Blanche, The Spoke Club, Society of African Canadian Artists, The Sport Gallery, The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto Design Xchange, Artworx T.O, DeRo Foundation, and CBC Radio. Mark's art collections have found homes with prominent individuals, including Masai Ujiri, President of the Toronto Raptors, NBA player Tracy McGrady, Director Spike Lee, WNBA player Tammy Sutton Brown, Dwayne De Rosario, Canadian former professional soccer player, and 1968 Olympian Dr. John Carlos, known for his silent protest with a raised fist on the podium in Mexico City.

Mark's most recent collection, titled "POST NO BILLS," has been acquired by Scotiabank Arena. Beyond his artistic pursuits, Mark is engaged in community advocacy through volunteer work, speaking engagements, and visual contributions to local schools and organizations. Additionally, he serves as a part-time Art professor at Sheridan College, contributing to the development of aspiring artists.

Mark remains an influential trailblazer, leaving an indelible mark on the community through his art and community engagement.