I have just started reading Michael Holding new book Why we kneel, How we rise. almost from the start this book upset me, as he begins to relate the prejudice and inequality which has taken place over hundreds of years. For those who may not know Michael Holding played cricket for both Jamaica and the West Indies from ‘75 to ‘85. He was known as “whispering death”, a fast bowler so smooth and elegant that he hardly made a noise. During the reports on George Floyd’s death in America he spoke eloquently, emotionally and passionately about the prejudice that black people suffer every day and how inequality with white people continues. He had buried his feelings for his whole life even though he still experiences prejudice but now he is speaking out and his book uses his sporting credentials to have spoken with other sports people who have also experienced the same issues. I urge you to read it. I am not going to explain his prose except to say I agree with his assessment that education for all people is the only way it can be addressed. As he says, history is written by the winners and by those who harm not those who are harmed!
When I grew up racial slurs were normal and accepted and I was as guilty as anyone else, being ignorant of the harm it caused. I like to think my younger self knew it was wrong but that is no excuse. Any form of racial slur is simply unacceptable and yet now in the 21st century it continues unabated in almost every place in the world. Even lighter skinned black people are prejudicial against those who have a dark skin, which I was aware of but find difficult to understand.
The world is weird in a myriad of ways but peoples inhumanity to others is the most inhuman of traits and must be resisted in every way.
Stay well
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