African American

But I did find an interesting article on San Jose University sports sociologist Harry Edward who advised Smith & Carlos on the track team there in the early years, and got to know Kaepernick as an adviser to the 49ers.

"As a rookie, Kaepernick, who had spent his entire life in predominantly white communities, came to Edwards for information. Edwards pointed him toward The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Toward James Baldwin. Toward the writings of Martin Luther King.

“He went through a transition, just like we all did in my time,” Edwards said. “We were Negroes who became African Americans who began to look at experiences through completely different eyes.”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Mexico-City-protest-What-has-changed-in-50-years-13303583.php

And we know Kapernick knows Baldwin and I'd like to imagine Baldwin inspired Smith & Carlos, too

Link to tweet