Holding delivers fiery speech on racism

In an emotionally charged speech yesterday, former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holder held nothing back as he demanded an end to racism and for education to include both the black and white historical perspectives.

Holding made the moving comments during the rain delay on the first morning of the first Test between England and the West Indies at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

The Jamaican commentator, dubbed the 'Whispering Death' in his playing days, outlined that the world will not rid itself of racism unless their is proper education on the matter.

"Education is important, unless we want to continue living the life we are living and continue just having demonstrations now and again, and a few people saying a few things. When I say education, I mean going back in history," Holding said.

He went on to mention that both sides need to be included in historical teachings and not just from one perspective, as only then would people truly understand that all lives matter.

"We have been brainwashed. Think about religion. I'm not really a very holy person ... look at Jesus Christ, pale skin, blond hair, blue eyes. Where Jesus came from, who in that part of the world looks like that?

"But this is brainwashing, this is what the image of perfection is. And Judas is a black man, he's the bad man.

"You can tell me who invented the light bulb - Thomas Edison. But he invented the light bulb with a paper filament that burnt out in no time. Can you tell me who invented the filament that makes these lights shine throughout? Nobody knows because he was a black man," he added. "Lewis Howard Latimer invented the carbon filament that allows lights to shine continuously."

"I remember my schooldays - I was never taught anything good about black people. History is written by the conqueror, not by those who are conquered."

The West Indies and England cricket teams also played their part in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The West Indies squad knelt and held clenched fists in black gloves as they showed full support for and the fight against racism, inequality and injustice, while the England team also knelt.

Both West Indies and England teams announced they would wear the Black Lives Matter logo on the collars of the playing shirts.

Also, a flag was flown over the team's balcony with the composite logos of Cricket West Indies and Black Lives Matter on the traditional maroon background.