Thread by @PeteOlusoga

*Takes deep breath. Dives in*

To my colleagues and friends in sport.

I've been thinking about an exchange I had recently on twitter. I've been thinking about it a lot and I have to say it: I am hugely disappointed.

I'm disappointed in how the conversation ended, yes, but it reflected something bigger that I've been dwelling on for a while.

Before I begin, I should say that I am entirely comfortable with the discomfort of being in predominantly white spaces - spaces in which I am the only black face, or at least, one of very few. I'm completely used to it.

Psychology is one of those spaces.

Once we look away from the playing surface, sport is one of those spaces.

Sport psychology is one of those spaces.

But while I'm comfortable with that discomfort, I do want you to know that it IS uncomfortable.

After the murder of George Floyd, I watched as the world began to sit up and take notice. I watched protests against systemic racism and police brutality taking place around the world. I watched the BLM movement gather momentum.

I watched as white people clamoured to buy 'Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race'. I watched people start to have conversations about racism that they had never had before.

How's all that going, by the way? Are we still doing that, or has the moment passed?

Anyway, the point I wanted to make is that silence can be deafening, especially when it eminates from those close to you.

Can silence eminate? I don't know, but that's not the point.

What has disappointed me is the seeming lack of recognition, the lack of support, the lack of acknowledgement that any of this is even happening, from colleagues in my very white field.

That is not to say that there has been no acknowledgement or support at all, nor am I saying that I need you to check on me and bring me soup. I'm okay.

But I do need you to step it up a notch.

So this is something of a call to action for all of my colleagues in sport. I'm here to say that I need you to understand that there is no grey area here.

There is no fence to sit on in a fight between racism and anti-racism. To remain neutral is to choose the side of the oppressor. To disengage entirely is to choose the side of injustice.

And I'm here to tell you that this is not a good look, no matter how apolitical you might wish to remain for the sake of appearances.

There is a hesitation when it comes to speaking about race and racism. I understand that, but there need not be.

Yes, you might well get it wrong at some point, you will say or do the wrong thing, and at times it will be uncomfortable. You might worry about what people think about you if you tweet, retweet, share, or even dare to say something yourself.

I get that.

But for the love of Shaka Hislop, is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable not what we preach? Is discomfort a reason to avoid action, especially when that action is so meaningful?

The athletes, coaches, and students we serve are watching.

The athletes, coaches and students of colour we serve are watching.

Like I said before, I'm used to feeling like an outsider in my chosen field, so writing this with the prospect of white solidarity kicking in, and me alienating myself from my colleagues is no big deal for me. I hope that doesn't happen, but I'm prepared for it.

My hope is that my colleagues in sport read this and choose to stand, visibly and vocally, on the side of anti-racism, without self-consciousness, fully uncomfortable, but giving that discomfort a lovely big cuddle and saying "Hi! This is gonna be an interesting ride."

✌🏿