Jamaican soccer sensation Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, one of the top players in women’s soccer, made a bold statement on Sunday, February 16 after enduring racist and misogynistic abuse online following her team’s loss to Arsenal earlier this month. The Manchester City striker raised her fist in a Black Power salute after scoring the first of her two goals in a 4-0 victory against Liverpool.

The salute came just days after Shaw stepped away from a key match to protect her mental health following the social media onslaught. Social media abuse is an all-too-common experience for Black athletes, especially Black women, and Manchester City reported the incidents to authorities and launched an investigation while publicly standing by their star player. Shaw chose not to share the hateful messages publicly, refusing to give attention to the perpetrators.

“It’s powerful, obviously,” Man City manager Gareth Taylor said. “Bunny’s a proud Black woman and where she’s come from means a lot to her.”

Shaw’s actions sent a clear message of resilience, and echoed the historic protests of American track stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics, standing as a symbol of defiance against racism.

For many young fans—especially Black girls—Shaw’s gesture is inspiring. With 86 goals in 100 appearances for Manchester City and accolades like last season's Golden Boot award, Shaw continues to dominate the Women’s Super League despite adversity.