Graeme Smith joins Black Lives Matter call
Graeme Smith became the first white English-speaking former South Africa player to voice his support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement on Friday (July 17). Language is pertinent because five white Afrikaans-speaking current internationals did so earlier - and because the country's racist past, formalised in the since-scrapped policy of apartheid, was largely the work of Afrikaners.
"Black Lives Matter," Smith posted on his Twitter account. "As director of cricket at Cricket South Africa, a former Protea and captain, a teammate, a father, a brother, a friend and most importantly fellow South African, I am proud to support this incredibly important movement.
"There is no room for neutrality on this topic. I stand with Lungi Ngidi and our brothers and sisters around the world. I will join the team tomorrow in taking the knee at the 3TC Solidarity Cup."
By the time Smith made his position clear, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Anrich Nortje, Marizanne Kapp and Dwaine Pretorius - all of them white and Afrikaans - had already joined the cause.
That followed Lungi Ngidi saying last Monday that he hoped the South Africa team would support BLM, a position that was criticised by white former players, including Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar.
Article source: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/113492/graeme-smith-joins-black-lives-matter-call
No comments: