Symbolic Gestures Against Racism
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Taking A Knee
Back in 2016, former NFL player Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem before games in protest of racial injustice and police treatment of black people. Kaepernick said that he could not stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.
“To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.”
— Colin Kaepernick
All around the world athletes are following his lead, kneeling together before games to protest racial inequality. Taking a knee has grown beyond sport and is now also a powerful act in Black Lives Matter protests - including those following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
BAREFOOT CIRCLE
In 2020, the Australian women's and men's cricket teams began standing in a circle, with bare feet, at the start of gamesevery international series in a stance of anti-racism, commitment to reconciliation and strength together.
First Nations people of Australia have nurtured and taken care of this country for 65,000 years. Cricket Australia says that the barefoot circle is a way for cricket players and teams to take a moment prior to matches to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, connect to each other as opponents and to connect to and pay respect to the country (land).
“Racism exists. We want to do our bit to
help stop that and be better.”
— Pat Cummins
BLACK POWER SALUTE
US sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists on the world stage at the 1968 Olympics - their Black Power salute would become one of the most influential protest images of all time.
In the moment that they raised their fists, the crowd went silent. As the anthem played, spectators booed and screamed the anthem. Punishment was swift, with Smith and Carlos ordered to leave the Olympic stadium.
But that moment made history as an incendiary act of protest by athletes, an icon of the Black Power movement, and an emotional reference point in taking a knee.
“It was a cry for freedom and human rights.”
— Tommie Smith
RACQUETS DOWN, HAND UP
In response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020, prominent tennis couple American ATP Tour player Frances Tiafoe and women's US collegiate tennis champion Ayan Broomfield spearheaded a justice campaign, with a video entitled ‘Enough Is Enough’.
“Ayan and I felt we needed to reach out and express our feelings for what is and what has been going on here in America,” says Tiafoe in the video.
Tiafoe and Ayan quietly place their racquets down on the ground, and hold their hands up. In an emotional montage that follows, many tennis greats including Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka place their racquet down, and hands up.
The video concludes with a powerful call to action: Let us all continue to educate ourselves, donate, speak out, and most importantly... love all.
DROPPING OF ‘AUSTRALIA DAY’ TITLE
In 2020, Cricket Australia stood its ground in not referring to January 26 as ‘Australia Day’ as part of its Big Bash League promotions. The decision followed consultation with its Indigenous advisory committee, as part of its effort to normalise conversations over the date's history.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was swift to criticise. “When those 12 ships turned up in Sydney, all those years ago, it wasn't a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either,” said Morrison.
Former Australian of the Year and Northern Territory Treaty Commissioner Michael Dodson called Morrison's comments "selfish", saying he is "very lightweight when it comes to understanding Australian history".
“It’s recognition that it’s a really hurtful day for many… we want to make this space as safe and inclusive as possible.”
— Mel Jones
The co-chair of Cricket Australia's National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee, Mel Jones, said she supported the decision not to make reference to ‘Australia Day’.
"We don't get a choice whether to be a role model in sports these days, but you do get the choice to be a good one or a bad one,” she said to ABC News.
“Hopefully, it sends a message just to be kind to people, that we are listening more, and that's the kind of Australia we want to get to isn't it?"
