SSP Diaries | Our increasingly coloured landscape

THERE MUST be a concern on the part of some who were traditionally dominant in the sports arena that there is now emerging a preponderance of ‘coloured’ athletes in just about every discipline imagined. The last football World Cup was more than evident when it came to blacks representing traditionally Caucasian countries.

In an article titled ‘Pondering’ (written in December 22, probably published in January 23), I did register some observations on the topic especially as it related then to the composition of the French team that won in 2022.

From observation of the recent Olympic Games, in many events, North American and European countries are relying upon relatively high numbers of black athletes to represent them at the event. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about that if the individuals have earned their right to represent and will be regarded as equals in their society, worthy of recognition and support, and be respected as true representatives of their country, as would normally have been the case were they white. One gets the feeling that some black athletes representing certain traditionally white countries have been granted ‘citizenship’ just so that they can make use of their superior talents.

GLOBAL PREJUDICES

It is sad that we cannot look at such ascendancy as a normal situation readily acceptable in society generally. Global prejudices, racism, assumptions of ethnic superiority, etc., all come into play denying many the chance of being civil. We must take another look at France again and the stories that are emerging of alleged racism. Serena Williams is refused entry to the Peninsula Restaurant in Paris where she intended to have a meal, accompanied by her children! The excuses made by management subsequently are not worthy of comment.

Sha’Carri Richardson, the US sprinter and our beloved Shelly-Ann Fraser are refused entry to their designated warm-up areas, an area they were allocated to use and had done so previously, without the courtesy of prior notice. Are these coincidences or simply cultural biases coming to the fore. France has a colonial history of only recognising you when you are of use to them and discarding you once the process is over. On the contrary, black athletes have become the mainstay of the Americans, Canadians, British, German, Belgian teams largely, for quite some time.

If the observation translates into being a positive social development, then much would be achieved in making the world a better place to live in. As the situation evolves, it is possible that there could be racial upheavals where the traditional feel that the emergent are stealing their rightful places and reaping the glory that would otherwise be theirs. In such cases it is easy to see rational thought going through the door. One must look back at our cricket history. When players from the West Indies played in the UK’s Country Cricket competitions, the learning process was a mutually beneficial one until the British felt that we were denying them the ability to develop their game by having greater national involvement. West Indian players were suddenly reduced to ‘tokenism’ in the UK competition and the rest is history.

OPTICS OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

So, there are implications for the current trends in the increased ‘coloured’ landscape representing certain traditional white countries. Do not be surprised if some of our athletes are no longer offered scholarships or a defined percentage for acceptance put in place. It could also take the form of a certain percentage of blacks allowed on any one national team to ensure optics of equal opportunity representation or some other unfathomable explanation.

It will all be done because of the perceived white or ethnic supremacy that has engulfed the world today. This further colours the landscape. You only have to look at the Israeli Gaza conflict to see how ‘acceptable’ this behaviour has become to those perceived to be world leaders. Once this is prosecuted in their interest, at the end of the day what is there to stop them pursuing a superiority of races agenda in the already politicised discipline of sports competitions? I am happy with the ascendancy that is being realised but the question is, how much longer will our irrational society accept it? As a black race we must commit to always moving forward while being informed by the past.