BRING THE GIANT PLASTIC TAP TO YOUR CITY INFO@SJAREPS.COM
February • 2022
globalheroes.com The power of positive, solution-based journalism.
Black Lives Matter Moves from Protest to Action for Athletes The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement marched on in 2021 but to the beat of a quieter drum as they moved from protest to action, implementing some of the change athletes helped put in the spotlight. From tennis courts to soccer pitches and Formula One starting grids, athletes took their protests into the living rooms of sports fans around the world in 2020. Still, this year it was away from the arenas and stadiums and in the boardrooms where BLM attempted to make an impact. If any league or team in North America did not have a diversity and inclusion department last year, most did in 2021, pressured by athletes and fans to develop plans to address social justice issues. “What we are trying to do is position our league as a league for the new America,” said Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber, making diversity a central plank in his annual stateof-league address. “We all have to have an awakening of what happened over the last year and ensure we are doing our part. “Our diversity hiring initiative is bold, it’s not going to be easy but it is our attempt at making a difference.” Athletes worldwide rose up in 2020 by joining together to show their outrage over racial injustice triggered by the death of George Floyd, a Black man gasping for
air and calling for his mother as a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd’s death forced a reckoning about racial injustice and gave a global profile to the BLM movement that has emerged in recent years to protest the deaths of African Americans in police custody. Athletes in much smaller numbers and less frequency continued to take the knee or raise fists this year. However, none of the headline-grabbing displays made as much of an impact as Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, who wore a mask with the name of a different Black American victim of police brutality before each of her matches at the U.S. Open. In 2021, the Black Lives Matter message had become part of the game-day experience, with “End Racism” on the back of NFL football helmets and cleats and on the steering wheels of Formula One cars. While athlete mental health became the dominant storyline at the Tokyo Olympics, some of those competing at the Games took advantage of performing on the world’s biggest sporting stage to keep the BLM movement in the spotlight. Members of the women’s soccer teams of Britain, the U.S.,
Sweden, and New Zealand all took the knee before their opening matches to raise awareness about greater racial equality in sport. “From our perspective, it’s been rewarding to see the activity that many of the leagues are taking on beyond awareness,” Trovon Williams, spokesperson for the NAACP, told Reuters. “Awareness is great and we appreciate that, but the action to change many of the scenarios we saw play out over the last 18 months, that’s where we need the most assistance.”
what they have to say. “And that’s the reason why people with a platform, people with a name, people that are recognised all over the world, need to speak up about things that affect them and affect the world,” Holding said. Holding, regarded as one of cricket’s authoritative commentators and regularly used by broadcasters worldwide, has spoken out extensively on racism since a passionate plea for society to change its attitudes following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. CRICKET CHAMPION Holding has published a book MICHAEL HOLDING called Why We Kneel, How We SIR LEWIS HAMILTON CALLS FOR MORE Rise, which covers racism in sport GETS KNIGHTED SPORTS STARS and has contributions from several Recognized for his advocacy, TO SPEAK OUT high-profile Black athletes. seven-time Formula One “People must recognize that AGAINST RACISM champion Lewis Hamilton Michael Holding wants more it’s all folks from different dereceived a knighthood for sportspeople to step forward and nominations and from different services to motorsport. speak out against racism. sectors and different parts of the The 36-year-old Briton, the The star athlete said it was world have done great things,” sport’s only Black driver, was important that public figures says Holding, who made sure made a Knight Bachelor by Prince used their celebrity and status to highlight the discoveries, inCharles in a ceremony at Windsor to convey important messages, novations, and much more that Castle, outside London. particularly racism. people of colour have contributHamilton is the fourth Formula “If people who have a platform ed throughout history. One driver to receive the honorary and who are able to reach out and Holding also said athletes should title of “Sir” in Britain after the get people to listen and people not confine their opinions to Australian Jack Brabham, Stirling to understand, say nothing, then sporting matters. Moss and Jackie Stewart, and who will?” he asked. “There are “When they leave the arena, or the only one to have received the sportspeople who are well known the basketball courts, they have award while still racing. throughout the entire world. If to go back into society to live a Hamilton has long they get up and say something, normal life. If they are affected by championed the Black Lives people around the world will want society, they have to speak up and Matter cause. In 2021, he wore a to hear what they have to say and use their platform.” rainbow-coloured Progress Pride will want to try to understand (Source: Reuters)
LEWIS HAMILTON WAS MADE A KNIGHT BACHELOR BY BRITAIN’S CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES © REUTERS/POOL/ANDREW MATTHEWS
helmet at the last three races in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi to show his support to the LGBTQ+ community. “Congratulations to seven times F1 World Champion and equality advocate Lewis Hamilton on receiving knighthood today,” American tennis great Billie Jean King tweeted. “Lewis Hamilton continuously uses his platform to advocate for social change, and is so deserving of this honour.”
FORMER WEST INDIES CRICKET PLAYER MICHAEL HOLDING © REUTERS/ANDREW BOYERS
ADVERTORIAL
Unmasking the Silent Symptoms of Kidney Disease BRENDA’S STORY
“Doctors discovered that I had Type 1 diabetes when I was 24 years old, an unusual age to be diagnosed. I was getting a lot of headaches and feeling very tired. I was able to control the disease with diet and exercise at first, but two years later, I got pregnant
BRENDA © COURTESY OF THE KIDNEY FOUNDATION
and became insulin-dependent. After the diagnosis, I tried to be very careful about my health and follow the rules. Once in a while though, I would stick my head in the sand, not take my insulin and eat whatever I wanted. It was probably during one of those times that my
kidneys became damaged. There were no signs of kidney problems at first. It was only later, when I was in my forties, that my legs started to swell. At one point, I was organizing a big fundraising event and got deathly sick afterwards. My family doctor said I had pneumonia and sent me home to rest. The next day I was rushed to hospital in an ambulance. I was in kidney failure. I was floored. I didn’t see it coming. I went on dialysis and, about four years later, received a kidney and pancreas transplant. The surgery fixed the kidney disease and also eliminated the diabetes. It was remarkable! While there were some side effects to the surgery, it felt like I had my life back. I lost the transplant several years ago, but I remain thankful for all that I can do. I am a long-time volunteer and was the Ambassador for my local Kidney Walk in 2021. I like to volunteer. It doesn’t take much, and it costs nothing to help others. I didn’t know anything about
KIDNEYS ARE VITAL TO YOUR OVERALL HEALTH Could You Be at Risk of Developing Kidney Disease? Learn more kidney.ca/risk
kidney disease before it happened to me. Now, I can help raise awareness about kidney disease and organ donation. We all want to leave a mark of some kind, and this is mine. I want to make that difference.”
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is here to help. As a reliable and trustworthy resource for people with kidney disease and their families, The Kidney Foundation provides high-quality information and programs like peer support to help people understand and navigate their journey with kidney disease. The Kidney Foundation stands behind those affected by kidney disease, championing systemic changes, increasing public awareness of kidney health and organ donation, and alleviating the burden of kidney disease. March is Kidney Health Month, the perfect time to help bring kidney disease out of the shadows and into the limelight of health considerations for Canadians.
1 in 10 Canadians has kidney disease, but many don’t know it because the signs and symptoms are often silent. Kidneys are mighty organs that have an essential role to play in the body. Kidneys regulate water, help to balance the body’s minerals, remove waste products, and produce hormones, making them a critical part of your overall health. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness like kidney disease is life-changing and can happen with little or no warning. Visit kidney.ca/risk to take Although its signs and symptoms our risk awareness quiz and are often silent until people are in find out if you should talk to kidney failure, kidney disease can your doctor about your kidney be delayed or prevented. There health. Educate yourself and are many things you can do to learn more about what you can be more aware of your kidney do to take care of your kidneys health and stay healthy. at kidney.ca/kidney-health.
