Nicky Winmar | Black & Proud
On the 17th of April 1993 Collingwood faced St Kilda on the magpie’s home ground at Victoria Park. During the warm up before the game, St Kilda’s Gilbert McAdam – who was about to play his first game at Victoria Park – and Nicky Winmar copped racial abuse from the sidelines leading them to decide that something had to change – that they would take a stand and not let the abuse get to them and instead let it fuel them to win.
Tension was high as St Kilda had beaten Collingwood the year before in the finals, but they had not beaten them at Victoria Park since 1976. Ultimately though, St Kilda came out victorious and Winmar and McAdam were named ‘best on ground’.
At the end of the game when the siren went off, Nicky Winmar found himself near the Collingwood cheer squad, who, angry with the outcome of the game, were once again hurling abuse in his direction.
This led to one of the most well-known moments in AFL history. Winmar raised his hands in victory to the cheer squad and then proceeded to raise his jumper and point to his skin saying
‘I’m black and I’m proud to be black’
This moment was immortalised in the photographs Wayne Ludbey and John Feder who each fought with their respective editors to have the photos published. Within days everyone was discussing the event.
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Nicky Winmar’s stand against racism, Indigenous Sports Network proudly present the Black & Proud event. The event on Tuesday, 18th April is free and open to all and will feature performances by Kutcha Edwards and traditional dance groups Djirri Djirri, Murrundaya Yepenga Dance Troupes, The Fighting Gunditjmara, Koorie Youth Will Shake Spear, Wulumbarra, and also Traditional Aboriginal Games by Wanyara. Catering will be provided by Dardi Munwurro with funds raised donated to the Dardi Munwurro youth hub.
This event will entail a traditional Ngarra Jarra Noun (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung for Healing) Ceremony, which involves the ceremonial smoking of native leaves.
Text excerpt taken from Deadly Story