In the commonwealth, perhaps 'Black Lives Matter' would be the closest to South Africa. The history of the apartheid regime and how the country's black majority had to struggle for many years to overcome the discrimination they faced on the basis of colour, with the great Nelson Mandela leading the way.
Politically things have changed, but need to truly embrace diversity and have equal opportunities for all remains an ongoing cause in the rainbow nation, still striving to put the dreadful past behind it in reality.
That is why when players from England and the West Indies took a knee in support of the ongoing movement against racism before the start of the Test series in the UK this Wednesday (July 8), the message echoed the loudest among their counterparts in Proteas.
Pacer Lungi Ngidi said discussions will definitely be held on how they could also provide an accurate gesture in support to anti-racism campaign, which re-triggered with the passing away of an Afro-American, George Floyd, on May 25th in the USA after being kneeled on the neck by a white policeman.
"That's definitely something that we will discuss once we are together in person," said Ngidi during an online press conference. "We have spoken about it and everyone is well aware of what's going on. It's a difficult one because we are not together, so it's hard to discuss. But once we get back to playing that is definitely something we have to address as a team."
"As a nation as well, we have a past that is very difficult because of racial discrimination. So it's definitely something we will be addressing as a team and if we are not, it's something I will bring up. It's something that we need to take very seriously and, like the rest of the world is doing, make a stand."
Former captain and current CSA director of cricket, Graeme Smith, backed Ngidi's view, saying it's "important" that Proteas play their role in the 'Black Lives Matter' movement.
"We are very aware of what's going on around the world and of our role at CSA [Cricket South Africa]," said Smith in another presser. "Lungi answered it very well when he said we are all in our own little pockets, and I think it's important that in the future we all come together and figure out how we can play our role in the BLM movement; how we can be effective in doing that."
The "meaningful" support that they strive to provide, could be on show during the '3TCricket' match for the Solidarity Cup on Mandela's birth anniversary on July 18 in Centurion.
"My belief in these things is that it's important to have buy-in and that of everyone invested in it as well, and I have no doubt that will be the case," said Smith. "But the discussion in each team environment and as CSA about how we handle it going forward is important."
"We do have the 3TC approaching on Mandela Day, where we are doing a lot for charity, and that will be our first occasion with the BLM movement. But as far as our iconic men's and women's teams are concerned there needs to be discussion."
"We're discussing various ways of handling it. The kit has gone to print already. We need to figure out how we can be effective about it as well, also authentic, and spread the messages that are meaningful to us as South Africans as well. And how that affects us on a daily basis," he concluded.
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)
