Are acts like ‘taking the knee’ meaningful ways to support the end of racism?

This blog covers the topic of racism, and some content could be distressing for some, so we wanted to alert you to this before reading so you can be mindful of your wellbeing. 

Performative anti-racism

Since the murder of George Floyd, debates about the nature and value of performative anti-racism have loomed large. Performative anti-racism is where people or organisations in privileged positions (White people in this instance or White owned or run organisations) profess solidarity with the anti-racist cause but don’t take real action or challenge the status quo. This can happen in multiple ways for example through posts on their social media feed, communications campaigns, content on their webpages, advertising campaigns, offering specialist products and services and donations to Black causes etc. 

The term ‘performative’ is used if these actions are viewed as inauthentic. In other words, the real reason they are being carried out is to give the impression that the person or organisation concerned are doing the right things. At times this performative anti-racism can be motivated by a desire to improve their brand reputation and avoid scrutiny or even negative attention about their real record on challenging antiracism.  In other words, they are performing to make themselves ‘look good’. 

Authentic anti-racism is about White people and White owned and run organisations actively advocating for people from ethnically diverse communities and in particular those from black and brown communities, whether at an individual or organisational level. It’s about real and genuine attempts to share the benefits of privilege more widely and support the marginalised to achieve change. It is about a continuous process of reflection and taking action rather than seemingly empty statements of support. 

This is about going beyond an aspiration for a diverse visual representation within our organisations, to looking at our cultures, the topics and ideas that are valued and where these come from, who we commission to deliver our services such as catering at our competitions, who our sponsors and partners are, who we select to buy services and products from, the societal issues that we talk about and how we respond to these – particularly if they matter to our colleagues and communities. 

What do we know about the impact of performative antiracism in organisations? 

Well, suppose the leaders in an organisation are showing their support for anti-racism but are not actually doing anything meaningful to address the issues. In that case, it can actually have the opposite impact by stifling debate and maintaining the status quo. 

It makes it harder for colleagues from ethnically diverse communities and allies to internally speak up about their real experiences and concerns because these are more likely to be viewed as opposing the wider organisational position. As a consequence, this also means that any positive real change to address structural racism and other barriers is far less likely to occur. 

So performative anti-racism can actually serve to reinforce attitudes and behaviours that keep racism in place. In fact, where performative anti-racism becomes part of the culture, it sends a message that it’s O.K. to disagree with racism but it’s not important enough to do anything about it. 

On the other side, all of this is likely to increase distrust and reduce the level of psychological safety experienced by colleagues from ethnically diverse communities who work with you. It may mean they become less engaged with your organisation and they are less likely to speak up and contribute next time the topic of anti-racism comes up. 

The origins and controversy of ‘taking the knee’ 

As many of you will know, taking the knee during the national anthem at the start of a game originated in 2016. American football player Colin Kaepernick used it to demonstrate his protest against the lack of attention given to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality in the United States.   

It is thought that Colin Kaepernick adopted the gesture based on important historical representations of Black people.  One well-known example is the image of a Black man kneeling in shackles and depicting slavery which became the emblem of the British abolitionist movement during the 18th and 19th centuries.  

Since 2016, other football clubs have picked up the act as an antiracist gesture, particularly in England becoming a common sight before kick-off throughout the 2020–21 English football season, but not without controversy. This was most notable during the Euros in 2021 when the gesture resulted in booing from some fans. On the other side, certain clubs decided to stop taking the knee and so too did certain players such as Wilfred Zaha and Marcus Alonso who have described it as ‘degrading’ and ‘losing strength’ as a gesture of anti-racism. 

More recently the Premier League clubs have decided the gesture was losing its power and would have a greater impact if used less frequently at the start of significant games. This decision was taken by the club captains after consulting with the players.   

So, is there value in visible anti-racist actions such as taking the knee? 

If we look at the psychological significance of this gesture, research on non-verbal behaviours suggests that kneeling is often interpreted as a sign of reverence and submissiveness and sometimes mourning and vulnerability. 

By kneeling during the national anthem, Kaepernick was signally a moment of mourning as a reminder of how far there is to go to achieve the ideals of equality that the anthem and flag represent. When others later adopted this act, they were showing respect for their national anthems but also a break with accepted norms. This simple non-aggressive act aims to grab our attention and encourage us to question our national values and what we stand for. 

Given the incredible power of sport and physical activity and its connections with vast swathes of the population, if we want to have an impact on the wider community, we need simple, memorable acts like this that disrupt accepted norms, alongside opportunities to explain their significance so they go beyond the performative. 

Symbols and gestures can be really powerful ways to connect with people and build a movement of like minds and can’t always be dismissed as showy and performative, but if they happen week in and week out without any proper understanding or reflection then they could become empty, misunderstood or even seen as subversive.   

Where gestures are understood they can serve as a regular reminder that we live in an inequitable society, and we all have a role to play in dismantling the barriers and checking our biases. It’s hard to remember to do this every day, so regular reminders are what we need. 

Anti-racism needs to have constant attention – not just during Black History Month or during special fixtures but every single day.  However, acts like this are not enough on their own, the roots of racism go very deep, and we won’t make a dent without also having actions and policies in place that challenge the underlying systems and foundations.   

Feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss any of the themes in this blog further  

As part of our Black History Month webinar series you might like to check out this Inclusive Sport webinar An approach to anti-racist media and communications – from tokenism to authenticity on 19 October 

And if you are interested in the topic of racism and sport our book recommendation is ‘Why we kneel how we rise’ by Michael Holding an incredible portrayal of the origins and impact of racism told through interviews with Black performance athletes.