Cricket commentator Michael Holding breaks down in tears during live TV cross
Cricket legend Michael Holding broke down in tears during a TV broadcast as he became overwhelmed by some troubling memories.
Cricket commentator Michael Holding has broken down in tears during a live TV cross a day after his powerful anti-racism message went viral.
The former fast bowler and ex-England star Ebony Rainford-Brent captivated the cricket world before play on day one of the first Test between the West Indies and England as they shared their experiences of racism and urged people to embrace the Black Lives Matter movement.
Holding was on the verge of tears on day one, and on day two became overwhelmed with emotion.
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“To be honest, that emotional part came when I started thinking of my parents, and it’s coming again now,” Holding said in a cross with Sky News in the UK.
“I know what my parents went through,” he added before pausing to compose himself.
“My mother’s family stopped talking to her because her husband was too dark. I know what they went through, and that came back to me immediately.
“It (change) is going to be a slow process but even if it’s a baby step at a time, even a snail’s pace, but I’m hoping it will continue in the right direction. Even at a snail’s pace, I don’t care.”
WATCH HOLDING’S EMOTIONAL ADDRESS IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
Holding and Rainford-Brent stopped the cricket world in its tracks on Wednesday night (AEDT) as they delivered a raw message about racism.
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“What people need to understand, this stems from a long time ago, hundreds of years ago, the dehumanisation of the black race is where it started,” Holding said.
“People will tell you, ‘That’s a long time ago, get over it’. No, you don’t get over a thing like that and society has not gotten over something like that.
“History is written by the conqueror, not by those that are conquered. History’s written by the people who do the harm, not by the people who are harmed.
“We need to go back and teach both sides of history and until we do that and educate the entire human race, this thing will not stop.”
Heading into day three, the West Indies were 1/57 in response to England’s first innings total of 204.
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