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And this is the thing that has been ignored/forgotten/disregarded by those who continue to criticise Adam Goodes for his reaction to the racist abuse in that awful incident in 2013.
The 2013 indigenous round marked the 20th anniversary of the Winmar incident and that iconic pose.
Goodes was used by the AFL to lead media promotions by indigenous players before the 2013 indigenous round, including by replicating the Winmar pose (see below).
For example this article before the 2013 indigenous round:
‘The theme for 2013 – Identity – was inspired by Nicky Winmar’s iconic gesture at Victoria Park in 1993 when, at the conclusion of St Kilda’s match against Collingwood, he raised his jumper and pointed at his skin and declared: “I’m black – and I’m proud to be black!”
The 2013 Indigenous Round will celebrate this moment and remind football fans of its significance in the history of our game, and the identity it gives each and every Indigenous player in the AFL.
“The instant reaction is that it reminds me of the times I’ve had to stand up for myself when I’ve been racially abused on the football field, at school, by my own relatives,” Goodes said.’
Indigenous Round: Adam Goodes - AFL NSW / ACT
And then in the Collingwood 2013 indigenous round match he hears, out of the crowd, one of the worst pieces of racist abuse imaginable. He is called an ape - an animal, not human, the ‘other’ - the explanation used for centuries to justify invasion of indigenous communities, taking their land, murder, rape, exploitation.
And he is criticised for reacting???
This 2014 article by Anthony Sharwood, in the lead-up to Goodes’ 350th match, sums it up:
‘Off field, he’s an inspirational role model, not least in his hands-on role as director of the Go Foundation, which provides scholarships for young indigenous people.’
‘On field, there’s no one quite like the man who tonight notches up an incredible 350th AFL game, and there never really has been.‘
‘So here’s this ripper bloke. This inspirational indigenous Australian. This beautiful, silky footballer who’s a dream to watch. And yet plenty of people don’t like him. Go figure that.’
‘To this writer, it always seemed like Goodes, consciously or subconsciously, was emulating the famous Nicky Winmar gesture in that (2013 indigenous round) moment. Only, instead of pointing to his own chest in pride, Goodes pointed to the section of the crowd from which the insult had emanated. And he did this not to shame anybody personally, but to shame the very mentality of those who would call a black man an ape, and by inference, subhuman.’
Category: | Herald Sun
The 2013 indigenous round marked the 20th anniversary of the Winmar incident and that iconic pose.
Goodes was used by the AFL to lead media promotions by indigenous players before the 2013 indigenous round, including by replicating the Winmar pose (see below).
For example this article before the 2013 indigenous round:
‘The theme for 2013 – Identity – was inspired by Nicky Winmar’s iconic gesture at Victoria Park in 1993 when, at the conclusion of St Kilda’s match against Collingwood, he raised his jumper and pointed at his skin and declared: “I’m black – and I’m proud to be black!”
The 2013 Indigenous Round will celebrate this moment and remind football fans of its significance in the history of our game, and the identity it gives each and every Indigenous player in the AFL.
“The instant reaction is that it reminds me of the times I’ve had to stand up for myself when I’ve been racially abused on the football field, at school, by my own relatives,” Goodes said.’
Indigenous Round: Adam Goodes - AFL NSW / ACT
And then in the Collingwood 2013 indigenous round match he hears, out of the crowd, one of the worst pieces of racist abuse imaginable. He is called an ape - an animal, not human, the ‘other’ - the explanation used for centuries to justify invasion of indigenous communities, taking their land, murder, rape, exploitation.
And he is criticised for reacting???
This 2014 article by Anthony Sharwood, in the lead-up to Goodes’ 350th match, sums it up:
‘Off field, he’s an inspirational role model, not least in his hands-on role as director of the Go Foundation, which provides scholarships for young indigenous people.’
‘On field, there’s no one quite like the man who tonight notches up an incredible 350th AFL game, and there never really has been.‘
‘So here’s this ripper bloke. This inspirational indigenous Australian. This beautiful, silky footballer who’s a dream to watch. And yet plenty of people don’t like him. Go figure that.’
‘To this writer, it always seemed like Goodes, consciously or subconsciously, was emulating the famous Nicky Winmar gesture in that (2013 indigenous round) moment. Only, instead of pointing to his own chest in pride, Goodes pointed to the section of the crowd from which the insult had emanated. And he did this not to shame anybody personally, but to shame the very mentality of those who would call a black man an ape, and by inference, subhuman.’
Category: | Herald Sun
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