All lives don't matter until black lives matter: Faf du Plessis

I surrender my opinions and take the knee as an intercessor, Du Plessis wrote.

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has shaken the principles and believes of many people in the world. The demise of African-American George Floyd at the hands of white police officers triggered massive protests and riots throughout America and has found support in other parts of the world as well.

In the cricketing world as well, Daren Sammy was the first to raise the issue of racism in the game, pointing out that he faced similar things while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. The West Indies team and England team decided to sport the BLM logos on their jerseys for the ongoing Test series.

South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi announced his support for the movement but was rebuked by many former Proteas cricketers, accusing him of ignoring the plight of white farmers in the country, who were being killed for their lands.

However, Ngidi has received massive support from everyone in the South African cricket fraternity for his stand and many of the colored players signed a statement on Monday giving their support to the fast bowler.

Gibbs, Ntini, Philander among 30 former Proteas cricketers to stand in support of BLM movement

And now, former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has joined the fight against racism. Offering his views on the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, du Plessis said the time has come to fight racism head-on.

"In the last couple of months, I have realized that we must choose our battles. We are surrounded by many injustices in our country that require urgent attention and action to fix them," the 36-year-old du Plessis posted on Instagram.

"So I've remained silent, with the intent to listen, but not respond. Slowing down my point of view, but quicker to hear the pain of someone else. I surrender my opinions and take the knee as an intercessor. I acknowledge that South Africa is still hugely divided by racism and it is my personal responsibility to do my best to emphasize, hear the stories, learn and then be part of the solution with my thoughts, words, and actions," du Plessis added.

Du Plessis said the 'Black Lives Matter' movement has his full support.

"So I am saying that all lives don't matter UNTIL black lives matter. I'm speaking up now because if I wait to be perfect, I never will. I want to leave a legacy of empathy," he said.

Here is his complete statement:

 

 

 

 

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In the last couple of months I have realized that we must choose our battles. We are surrounded by many injustices in our country that require urgent attention and action to fix them. If we wait only for the ones that attack us personally, we will always live for “my way vs your way” and that way leads us nowhere. So I’ve remained silent, with the intent to listen, but not respond. Slowing down my point of view, but quicker to hear the pain of someone else. I knew that words would be lacking and that my understanding is not close to where it needs to be. I surrender my opinions and take the knee as an intercessor. I acknowledge that South Africa is still hugely divided by racism and it is my personal responsibility to do my best to emphasize, hear the stories, learn and then be part of the solution with my thoughts, words and actions I have gotten it wrong before. Good intentions were failed by a lack of perspective when I said on a platform that - I don’t see colour. In my ignorance I silenced the struggles of others by placing my own view on it. A race problem is a human race problem, if one part of the body hurts ,we all stop, we empathize, we get perspective, we learn and then we tend to the hurting part of the body. So I am saying that all lives don’t matter UNTIL black lives matter. I’m speaking up now, because if I wait to be perfect, I never will. I want to leave a legacy of empathy. The work needs to continue for the change to come and whether we agree or disagree, conversation is the vehicle for change.

A post shared by Faf du plessis (@fafdup) on Jul 16, 2020 at 11:20pm PDT