SYSTEM

teammates (some still made the trip) as they believed such a term suggests that something is wrong with being black.

Holding says that while racism is not as rife in society now as it was back then, it still exists. He referred to global Black Lives Matter protests, which have taken place since the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in the custody of four policemen, one of which knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25.

“When I look at the problem of racism, I prefer not to relate it to cricket or any sport,” Holding said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s all about what’s happening in the society.

“There are a lot less individuals who show racist tendencies, but because of the history of how black people were considered inferior, that racism is more institutionalised and not as overt. The evidence of both is quite evident. The protests all round the world that we’re seeing today have not just black people, but a lot of white folks who see what’s happening and feel the same way. In the early days, protests like these would be predominantly blacks with a few white faces. Thankfully, that’s not the case these days.”

Holding says racism is systematic and institutionalised, and this is why there is no fairness in how blacks are treated regarding the same issues as whites.

“The systemic and institutionalised racism is quite evident by the way blacks and whites [who are] committing the same crime or behaving the same way are treated differently,” he said. “That’s the biggest problem that has to be tackled. Until the fact is acknowledged, we won’t make any progress.”

Holding, who now works as a cricket pundit and commentator, represented the Windies from 1975 to 1987. He played 60 Test matches and 102 One-Day Internationals in that time.