On May 25, African-American George Floyd fell victim to an inhumane, brutal and heinous police operation.
His death is the bloody drop of racism that a keg full of unfairness, inhumanity, scorn and violence caused it to overflow. Mass riots, worldwide protests, minutes of silence, the violent removal of statues associated with racism and colonialism — and soccer players who symbolically kneel while cheering for goals:
All of this is primarily an expression of deep-seated anger, a despair about the reality that black people still face in 2020.
What does all this have to do with B42? A lot. Sport is political, it always was.
You can welcome that or criticize it, but it's a fact. This connection dates back to the Panhellenic Games in ancient Greece and continues with “bread and games” as a political instrument in ancient Rome.
A motif that has appeared again and again, especially since modern times:
racism.
South Africa had to be excluded from the Olympic Games and soccer World Cups for decades due to the apartheid regime.
During the award ceremony for the 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico, the two Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos protested against racial discrimination in the USA with a raised fist.
As the most popular and important sport, soccer, especially in Germany, is a reflection of society — and brings its best as well as its worst qualities to the surface.
He can reconcile, set an example. But also hurt and be exploited as a platform for racism.
It integrates and ensures that people of different levels of education, income and religious backgrounds are on the pitch as a team.
And he shows his ugly face at the same time — in the form of monkey sounds in the Bundesliga stadium, racist insults in the district league or, more subtly, in the form of a stupid slogan in the dressing room. I didn't mean that...
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B42 is not an NGO, not a political interest group. We are primarily committed to providing soccer players with an effective training app.
But we were committed to it right from the start, clearly and decisively against racism, nationalism, antisemitism and all other forms inhuman thought to position.
Understanding the soccer field as what it should be:
A place where people with diverse personal backgrounds pursue their passions — in accordance with clear rules and on the basis of a shared set of values, in which respect, human decency, fairness, equality and justice are lived out.
For us, anti-racism is an essential part of our foundation of values. It is part of our name:
B42 (“Be 42”) It's a tribute to Jackie Robinson. The professional baseball player who was the first African American to play in the US professional league MLB against tough resistance from whites.
He wore number 42 — a number that has always stood for values such as tolerance, equality and solidarity all over the world and combines all sports. That is exactly what it is about.
So if we see soccer as a reflection of society, then we must do everything we can to ensure that this wonderful sport stands for the described values in the future, sets standards and sets standards.
And we have to open our mouths and get even louder when some idiots use it to express their inhumane view of the world.
We at B42 will therefore do more in the future to stand up for anti-racism. That's what we promise.
We will talk to initiatives, engage in dialogue with those affected, and formulate clear goals. Because words aren't enough.
We are all challenged — on the soccer field, on the subway, in the auditorium, in the living room, everywhere! Let's make this world a little better together.
Be fearless. Be focused. B42
We are the game changer — B42
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