Seeing as it's #BlackHistoryMonth, here's a little Black History for you.
Now, while Colin Kaepernick is rightly celebrated as a star athlete who has used his platform beautifully to highlight social justice issues, he certainly wasn't the first...
Now, while Colin Kaepernick is rightly celebrated as a star athlete who has used his platform beautifully to highlight social justice issues, he certainly wasn't the first...
We know about Jackie Robinson, about Muhammad Ali, about John Carlos and Tommie Smith (and Peter Norman before you start*).
*It is literally impossible to mention Smith and Carlos without someone piping up "but what about Peter Norman!?"
Honestly, try it sometime.
*It is literally impossible to mention Smith and Carlos without someone piping up "but what about Peter Norman!?"
Honestly, try it sometime.
Anyway, we know about Craig Hodges...
... actually, we might not know about Craig Hodges, but that's a story for another time.
We know about Mahmoud Abdul Rauf, and many many more athletes who have spoken out about racial injustice in particular...
... actually, we might not know about Craig Hodges, but that's a story for another time.
We know about Mahmoud Abdul Rauf, and many many more athletes who have spoken out about racial injustice in particular...
But we probably don't know that much about Ariyana Smith.
Ariyana Smith played basketball at Knox College in Illinois and was arguably the first athlete to bring the #BlackLivesMatter movement as we know it to the sporting arena.
Ariyana Smith played basketball at Knox College in Illinois and was arguably the first athlete to bring the #BlackLivesMatter movement as we know it to the sporting arena.
Smith was playing in a game against Fontbonne University in Clayton, Missouri. Now there aren't a lot of states where protesting the flag or anthem (you know what I mean) goes down well, but Missouri certainly wouldn't be top of my list.
Anyway, during the playing of the anthem, Ariyana Smith made the “hands up don’t shoot” gesture, walked slowly towards the American flag, and then lay face down on the floor for 4 and half minutes...
Why 4 and a half minutes?
To represent the four and a half hours that Michael Brown lay in the street after being fatally shot by police.
Smith was suspended, and although the suspension was later rescinded the situation was untenable and she left the team.
To represent the four and a half hours that Michael Brown lay in the street after being fatally shot by police.
Smith was suspended, and although the suspension was later rescinded the situation was untenable and she left the team.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
