I Love a Good Fist Bump

Building trust in a world that divides

I’m going on record as a fan of the fist bump.

The first one I can remember receiving was in 2010. I was in a work meeting, and one of our leaders came by, stuck his fist out, and I instinctively bumped fists with him. It seems so common now, especially post-COVID, when shaking hands has you running for the hand sanitizer.¹

The modern fist bump is thought to have originated in the NBA:²

One evening in the winter of 1970, an NBA rookie named Fred Carter showed up for a game, bounced around the Baltimore Bullets locker room, and then did something unexpected: He strolled up to Wes Unseld, the Bullets’ 6-foot-7 center, and extended his fist. “It was something I just did,” Carter says. Carter, 75 and retired, cannot remember the opponent or the date or even the city. And considering it was 50 years ago, that’s not surprising. It was an impromptu act. He didn’t realize he was pushing sports into the future.

A fist bump works well with all genders and is less intimidating than a full-on handshake where you risk a death grip or, worse yet, a limp fish. In some ways, it affirms our common humanity.

I recently went for a walk around a lake not far from our house. To get the full benefit of my workout, I donned a 20 pound weighted vest and put my cap on backward to show I was serious. About halfway around the lake, I saw a guy about my age running toward me. Let’s say that neither of us was breaking any speed records. But this gentleman did a simple thing. He extended his fist, I extended mine, we bumped, and he said, “Good work, keep on going, brother!”

It was a small act, but it lifted my spirits and helped me work harder the rest of the way.

Many tell us we are more divided than ever. Here’s the thing: The guy I met on the trail could have radically different ideas than me. We might eventually agree on one out of ten issues.

But none of that matters if we choose a different path—a higher path—a path lived out by serving people in big and small ways—fist bumps, encouraging words, voice texts, written notes, and conversations over coffee—showing up for people when they are scared and need you the most.

Who will you fist-bump this week? Make it count!

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1. I’m in favor of having this tech outside of all public restrooms!

2. Fist bump origins