In February, before Barcelona’s Europa League match against Napoli, there was a team discussion, although not about tactics. The players discussed it in the locker room and decided to try something different: they would take a knee.
It was the first time a top-tier Spanish club kneeled, six years after Colin Kaepernick initially did so and two years after Premier League clubs followed suit. It was also the final game, at least for men.
The concept originated from a Barcelona player who had spent the previous six years in England and was born adjacent to Camp Nou. Adama Traoré, who was on loan at Barcelona at the time, has just done training with Wolves and is settling in front of the television.
The evening before the announcement, Premier League captains stated they would now only take the knee during particular matches, which does not imply walking away. Or elsewhere. “Taking the knee is important, and it was excellent that the Spanish team did it,” says Traoré. It’s a way of describing the necessity of fighting.
Explain is a word that Traoré uses frequently. Education as well. According to him, it is all about empathy. It is also about understanding, and his experience is instructive, having been brought to Camp Nou that night and now to the anti-racism initiative of Common Goal.
Common Goal is celebrating its fifth anniversary on Thursday, and Traoré is joining its anti-discrimination initiatives, which include training for club executives, fan activities, and integration projects in local communities. “For me, it’s about having the chance to explain, to discover why individuals have such beliefs. From there, take action.”
That night, the Camp Nou applauded, but the act was only replicated by a few Spanish players on European occasions. Several Spanish teams in Europe have been caught off guard at kickoff by opponents kneeling.
Some Atlético Madrid supporters jeered Liverpool for kneeling. There was disagreement to suggestions that the national team kneels during Euro 2020. They never did, which the far-right, anti-immigration group Vox applauded by tweeting, “While others kneel, a patriot remains standing.”
Traoré responds, “It is a fact. Racism exists. Racists continue to push the notion that having a different skin color is a sign of inferiority. However, he did not observe a conscious rejection of anti-racism initiatives in football stadiums.
It is also not limited to a particular nation, although he claims that the level of awareness and sensitivity is highest in England. Ultimately, these are processes and generations. Also in England, there was an outbreak of fans whistling players taking the knee.
The 26-year-old Traoré said, “I don’t think it’s resistance.” “I believe there is a lack of comprehension, explanation, culture, and empathy. Perhaps they don’t technically oppose taking the knee; perhaps they don’t know, don’t understand, or believe it has nothing to do with them.
Taking the knee began here; perhaps it will ultimately spread to Spain. The response may not be the same [everywhere], but it is significant because the action explains: that educating children is crucial. Empathy is difficult for those who have never encountered racism. So you explain, tell tales, of what you have seen, heard, and endured.
“There was a conversation with Rio Ferdinand, and I recall telling him about the son of a physio. He’s young, he doesn’t understand, but when you see people you admire, you wonder, “Why is my favorite player kneeling?”
Therefore, the father explains: that the children of all ethnicities and skin tones at your school are not inferior to you. But racism is a reality, thus they take the knee for the following reasons: This is a need.”
In the 1980s, Traoré’s parents migrated from Mali to Barcelona, where his father worked at the Nissan factory. They lived in Hospitalet, one of Europe’s most densely inhabited neighborhoods and one of the few localities with a considerable immigrant population at the time.
“When I was younger, black people were not permitted to enter discos in Barcelona. At school, some students would say, “Black folks, no.” You were outside and distinct. “I’ve heard all sorts of prejudices, such as ‘blacks don’t smell nice’ and ‘black people stink’,” he says.
“I am Spanish, I feel Spanish, and I have Spanish culture; nevertheless, I also have the culture of my parents’ African ancestry.” I find it simpler to comprehend these two, whereas others do not.
People are influenced by what they are told or what they see on television. If you visit Africa, for example, you see something different from how it is ‘advertised,’ with images of poverty and issues.
“Being a child, you do not comprehend. Why? Why am I being treated in such a manner? Why must I hear “monkey,” “nigger,” and “black sh…?” It’s a fact you must accept. When it first occurs, you cannot believe it.
It’s unbelievable, you know? Some adults choose to fight it, while others choose to let it go. My parents always told me, “You must be strong because this is the life we have now, but it will change.” You should never feel inferior. They told me to be myself because I am lovely.
There are, however, children for whom it is a traumatic experience, who can be depressed, who feel unattractive and rejected, and who go so far as to try to change their complexion or other characteristics because they do not feel accepted.
It is essential to make people aware not just of the act itself, but also of the damage it causes. And to educate those children who experience racism, and enable them to comprehend.
He continues, “I’ve experienced that in football.” “A gibbon chants. My brother was also named several names. However, that individual was punished, which is significant. As increasingly stringent measures are implemented, the situation gradually improves. But we must continue to fight.”
What is the optimal approach to verbal harassment on the field? To depart? ” In England, they perform a crucial task: they identify and locate the specific individual. His companions are not accountable and should not pay.
But there is a time when captains can act when there are other players involved: go to the locker room or notify the FA. Then, if clubs are sanctioned, they will be cautious about who they allow inside. Classes would be the finest punishment for me, other than bans and such. Understanding, training Why did you do that? I am opposed to hatred meeting hatred.
“There are many who believe ‘this is not about me,’ but everyone is affected by their actions. Some people who experience racism believe that protesting is futile since it has no effect. I’ve met several folks like that, who don’t even mention it anymore.”
The decision to take the knee just before certain games was motivated by a fear that the gesture could have lost its significance by becoming habitual. Some dislike it or are simply uninterested.
Others will do so to a certain extent. Others may believe it to be fashionable, which is acceptable so long as it remains such. Some agree because everyone else does, even when they disagree,” he argues.
“Some believe it is ‘political’ and refuse to explore further. It is illogical to use that term to describe what it is, as the movement is so broad that it can encompass a wide range of phenomena. This is the item you should bring with you. Some people say, “Don’t you think the knee is excessively long?”
And what do you say? “I respond: I understand. You have not lived it or endured it daily. Some people do not understand what racism truly entails. However, if asked, you can explain. Racism remains a concern and a reality.
We must take the knee, communicate, and educate those who do not understand and those who suffer. And there’s something else that’s crucial: what can you do? What can you do to make the world a better place? This is where transformation begins.”
