The debate surrounding Britain’s handling of racist abuse continues to rage on, with politicians accused of “stoking the fire” of vitriol, and social media companies under increasing scrutiny for their screening of offensive content.
Now, a Mail on Sunday commentator has thrown his hat into the ring, offering his analysis of taking the knee.
After England players were booed for carrying out the emblematic move, and Home Secretary Priti Patel branded it “gesture politics”, Dan Hodges suggested the country needs “a new anti-racist symbol”.
He tweeted on Wednesday morning that since “many fans do not back taking a knee”, we need something “people can unite behind” and “everyone can have ownership of”.
Many players and many fans want some sort of anti-racism statement at the start of games. Many fans do not back taking a knee. So we simply need a new anti-racist symbol that people can unite behind. Not one imported from the states, but one everyone can have ownership of.
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) July 14, 2021
His assessment sparked a fierce response on Twitter, with fellow journalist Jason Okundaye asking: “Who the hell are you to tell black football players what solidarity symbol they can use?”
Culture writer Okundaye and Hodges were soon locked in a fiery argument on the platform, with the former positing: “Your projection that everyone would ‘unite’ behind a particular symbol is fallacious.
“People will always scramble for a problem, no matter how many clarifications, because they want anti-racism out of football. These fans harassed black players *before* the knee. They will continue to harass and jeer them after.”
He went on: “There is no universal consensus on anti-racism and that denies the fact that people are booing and jeering because they are racist and want to continue indulging in racism.”
But Hodges hit back: “Of course there’s not going to be a universal consensus. But 35% of people oppose TAK (taking a knee). 35% of people do not boo or jeer TAK, or abuse black players.
“So we need to find a way of bridging that divide that doesn’t involve simply saying ‘shut up and accept it, you racist’.”
Of course there's not going to be a universal consensus. But 35% of people oppose TAK. 35% of people do not boo or jeer TAK, or abuse black players. So we need to find a way of bridging that divide that doesn't involve simply saying "shut up and accept it you racist".
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) July 14, 2021
Taking the knee gained attention in American football in 2016 as players protested against police brutality and racism in the US.
The symbol of anti-racism solidarity has since spread further and was adopted by footballers in the UK, partly to demonstrate that racism should not be tolerated in the sport.
Along with Okundaye, scores of Twitter users strongly disagreed with Hodges’ suggestion that the act should be ditched in favour of a “home-grown” alternative.
Here’s what they had to say:
This too is white violence. Trying to dictate how Black people peacefully protest is a tool of white supremacy. To pretend that oppression can end if Black people just ask for it to end in the way that makes oppressors comfortable. https://t.co/h6a5VAXLQI
— Kelechi (@kelechnekoff) July 14, 2021
Movements against racism are constantly asked to change, quell or alter their strategy to appease the dominant culture (or white people), who have never had to live under racism, because their movements are disruptive to that culture. But that’s the entire point. https://t.co/mr79mT9L60
— Gina Martin (@ginamartinuk) July 14, 2021
Black people have been desperately waiting for a white Daily Mail Journalist like Dan Hodges to tell us how to express our need for basic equality. Thanks @DPJHodges 👍🏿 https://t.co/ECBcmoF9X0
— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) July 14, 2021
"We simply need a new anti-racist symbol that I, a white man can get behind" https://t.co/SJRaKzuowX
— Bolu Babalola (@BeeBabs) July 14, 2021
Always fun when a white man with no discernable record of meaningful anti-racism activism decides to appoint himself the voice of national sensibilities on anti-racism symbols. Keep digging, mate. https://t.co/wqUUABnWAQ
— Dr Nafeez Ahmed (@NafeezAhmed) July 14, 2021
People against 'gesture politics' now confirm its not gesture politics they're against. Just which gestures... https://t.co/jP8g2HSNXE
— Bradley Wall 🏳️🌈 🇪🇺🇬🇧🌍 (@BWallArthur) July 14, 2021
You mean you want an anti-racist symbol that Black people didn't start?
— Shoaib M Khan (@ShoaibMKhan) July 14, 2021
Or an anti-racist symbol that doesn't make racists feel too seen? https://t.co/Yi5tbC4q7u
What the actual. ‘We don’t want something the black people want, let’s find something white people like me will like’. Racist, privileged nonsense. You either support them or you don’t. https://t.co/70UsBcvlJ3
— Adil Rashford Saka Sancho 💙 (@adilray) July 14, 2021
Dan Hodges repeating the lie of why racists boo taking the knee - If Black and Mixed Ethnicities protested racism in a way racists approve, we’d get more support.
— MaccaS_Rants (@MaccaS_Rant) July 14, 2021
Listen carefully Dan, it’s not the form of protest they don’t support; they’ll never support ANY form of protest. https://t.co/2ROI1HfI84
Oh no! They forgot to clear it with the white blokes first... https://t.co/NTQtiyn2F5
— Tom Sutcliffe (@tds153) July 14, 2021
The genesis of taking a knee during a National anthem by an athlete (black NFL player Colin Kaepernick conversation with white former U.S Green Beret Nate Boyer) exemplifies the respect that generated the idea in the first place. A dignified peaceful and powerful protest. https://t.co/PLnjkNluDw
— Mikey Kay (@MikeyKayNYC) July 14, 2021
‘There is no form of protest against racism that is acceptable to racists’ @BerniceKing https://t.co/o8zi38h1zn
— Natasha Devon 🌈💙 (@_NatashaDevon) July 14, 2021
Hodges continued to defend his stance, asking if the nation should “simply brand the 35% of people who don’t support taking a knee - not people who boo, but who don’t support that specific gesture - as ‘a**holes’. And just carry on regardless.”
The answer, in many people’s eyes, was simple:
Yes
— Abigail Malbon (@abbimalbon) July 14, 2021
Asked what his “preferred symbol/gesture” would be, Hodges replied that it was “up for discussion.”
“To be honest, anything,” he said. “Hand-shake. Arms around the teams. If people are worried that’s too passive, a power salute. Just something that’s seen to be moving the debate forward.”
I think that’s up for discussion. To be honest, anything. Hand-shake. Arms around the teams. If people are worried that’s too passive, a power salute. Just something that’s seen to be moving the debate forward.
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) July 14, 2021
Meanwhile another user argued that if taking the knee was deemed unacceptable by swathes of the population, so too is the St George’s flag. In which case: “Surely we need new symbols to represent England/GB/UK?”
Are you happy with the use of the Union Flag and the flag of St. George as symbols of our nation?
— Otadini (@Otadini1) July 14, 2021
Both are inextricably linked with neo-nazis and white supremacists and have been for decades. They are symbols of hate.
Surely we need new symbols to represent England/GB/UK? pic.twitter.com/vuFfI9VGg1
In a separate tweet, they added: “Colin Kaepernick began his protest against racial violence by sitting and refusing to stand to the anthem. He received so much abuse about sitting disrespecting veterans, that he chose a different protest.
“He chose to kneel, because kneeling is universally seen as respectful.
“Move forward a couple of years and here we are again being told to change the form of protest. Why? Kneeling is Marxist apparently.”
They concluded their powerful thread: “So let’s stop playing silly little games/culture wars Dan.
“The simple reality is that the affront to those who hate people taking the knee isn’t the kneeling. Just like it wasn’t the sitting.
“It’s the challenge to racism that they have an issue with.”
We just hope there will come a time when no anti-racism symbols are necessary, but, at the moment, it feels like there’s still a long way to go...
