Colour of Your Jumper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "Colour of Your Jumper" |
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| Single by Archie Roach | ||||
| B-side | "Heal the People" | |||
| Released | 24 May 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||
| Length | 3:26 | |||
| Label | Liberation Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Archie Roach | |||
| Archie Roach singles chronology | ||||
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"Colour of Your Jumper" is a powerful song by Australian singer-songwriter Archie Roach. He wrote it in 1993 after a famous moment in Australian sport. During an AFL game, Indigenous player Nicky Winmar faced unfair comments from some people in the crowd. In response, Winmar bravely lifted his football jumper and pointed to his skin, showing pride in his heritage. This moment inspired Archie Roach to write the song.
A first version of the song was included on the 2013 album Creation. In May 2010, Archie Roach performed the song at Federation Square in Melbourne. This was part of the "Long Walk" event, which celebrates Indigenous culture.
In May 2013, Archie Roach recorded and released "Colour of Your Jumper" as a single. He performed the song live on The Marngrook Footy Show on May 23, 2013. He also sang it at the AFL Indigenous Round "Dreamtime at the 'G" game on May 25, 2013. This game was between the Essendon and Richmond teams. The song was recorded again for Roach's 2018 album, Dancing with My Spirit.
The Story Behind the Song
The song "Colour of Your Jumper" was inspired by a significant event on April 17, 1993. This happened during an AFL match at Victoria Park, Melbourne. The game was between the Collingwood and St Kilda Football Club teams.
During the game, St Kilda player Nicky Winmar, who is an Indigenous man, faced unfair comments from some fans. After the game, Winmar made a very strong statement. He lifted his football jumper and pointed to his skin. This gesture showed his pride in his Indigenous heritage.
The next day, a photo of Winmar's gesture was in major newspapers. It became a powerful symbol against racism in Australian sport. Many people saw it as a turning point. It helped start a movement to fight racism in Australian football. This important moment led Archie Roach to write "Colour of Your Jumper". He was especially moved by the unfair comments made by some people at the time.
Archie Roach explained why this moment was so important to him. He said that when Nicky lifted his jumper, it made him feel sad and angry. He felt it was wrong that a champion player had to do that. But more importantly, he saw what the jumper meant to Nicky. It wasn't just about being proud of his heritage. It was also about a young man who had achieved great things in the AFL. Nicky played with all his heart for his team's jumper.
Track List
This single version of the song includes two tracks:
- Colour of Your Jumper (3:26)
- Heal the People (4:25)
Release Information
"Colour of Your Jumper" was released in Australia on May 24, 2013. It was available as a CD single and as a digital download. The song was released by Liberation Records.
