IT’S TIME TO
Hamilton’s Instagram call to arms is just the beginning.. now everyone in sport must unite to condemn racism
IT shouldn’t have taken a call to arms about the killing of George Floyd for sport over here to stand up.
The one provided by Lewis Hamilton on Sunday night, however, will have resonated way beyond Formula One.
“I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars, yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,” the world champion, previously critical of the sport for its lack of diversity, wrote on Instagram.
“Not a sign from anybody in my industry, which, of course, is a whitedominated sport.
“I’m one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone. I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it, but you can’t stand alongside us. Just know I know who you are, and I see you.”
They began to appear, hours later. Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Nicholas Latifi and Sergio Perez all responded.
But why did it take so long? And why is it taking so long for sporting industries not shy in cashing in from the US dollar – or boasting about their antiracism credentials – to get the message reverberating around these parts?
Ferrari’s Leclerc apologised, reasoning that he’d been unsure how to articulate his feelings publicly.
“I felt out of place and uncomfortable sharing my thoughts on social media about the whole situation and this is why I haven’t expressed myself earlier,” he posted on Twitter.
“And I was completely wrong. I still struggle to find the words to describe the atrocity of some videos I’ve seen on the Internet. Racism needs to be met with actions, not silence. Please be actively participating, engaging and encouraging others to spread awareness. It is our responsibility to speak out against injustice. Don’t be silent.”
Williams’ Russell added on Twitter: “We all have a voice to speak up for what’s right and until now I didn’t know how to use mine in this situation.
“It’s time we all stand together and kick racism out of our societies for good. Use your voice, spread awareness as far as you can. We’re all responsible for ending the injustice.”
And therein lies the point. No matter how many black players, drivers, ex-professionals, journalists, columnists, TV or radio stars speak out, the fight against racists cannot be won unless white sportsmen use their platforms and risk their space too.
As Watford striker Troy Deeney told me last week: “How many footballers have an opinion on racism? Loads. How many speak out on it? A handful.”
Mercedes sheepishly pushed out a statement – midway through yesterday – with all of the usual rhetoric about standing with Hamilton but not mentioning Floyd by name at all.
Liverpool showed them how it should be done when they took a knee at training on Monday afternoon. Chelsea soon followed. Sadly, Mercedes’ example is still the way many industries in sport work. They can’t deal with race. They don’t ‘get’ racism. So they greenlight gimmicks, fine-tune slogans.
Their antennae are not attuned to the kind of issue on which young black sports stars, products of their communities, are determined to lead from the front.
Jadon Sancho’s booking, for removing his shirt to reveal his solidarity with the Floyd family after scoring in Germany on Sunday, underlined the point.
The rules are not designed to accommodate young men with a social conscience (Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram takes the knee, left). They underpin the idea that black men are supposed to be athletes, sports stars and little else.
At times like this the game is blessed to have men like Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Rhian Brewster. We need more like them.
Liverpool showed them how it should be done and then Chelsea followed