That thorny subject, Racism

Maybe a little heavy for a Friday afternoon but its something that leaves me confused and a little non plused.

I understand and agree with the vast majority who say they don’t get it but I would love to hear some non racist’s reasons from anyone who says they do get it.

On Saturday our probable team will be

Mig ………………………….Belgian I think
Ned…………………………..British and black
Titus………………………….British and black
Mensah……………………….Ghanaian and black
Bardo…………………………British and white
Henderson………………… British and white
Muntari………………………Ghanaian and black
Sess…………………………..Not sure and black
Richardson…………………...British mixed race
Steed…………………………Belgian
Gyan…………………………Ghanaian and black

So 2 white British players and the question is obvious, how can you cheer your Sunderland team, accept them as our heroes and our team then justify racism in any form, I really don’t get it and I’m from a generation were racism was really rife.

 

Belgian... Urgh!

 

They do and extremly fine chocolate mind

 

I can't understand anyone who judges an individual solely on the colour of their skin (or sex/gender for that matter). In the course of my work, I deal with people from all parts of the globe; with differing colours, religions, sexes and sexual preferences. And if there is one thing that I have learnt over the years is that there is good, bad and indifferent from all walks of life, regardless of all the things mentioned above.

 

Syd I agree. When I go to watch Sunderland I would like to see good football and expect 100% commitment from all players. I don't notice colour or nationality just 11 men on the pitch.

 

Amen.

 

and that seems to some like the run of the mill token reply but its true. I think that we are used to black footballers, long gone are the days when a black player was the odd one out and we do see a footballer in a red and white shirt, thats the only colour we are concious of, the colour of the shirt.

Like MrRAW I have met, drank with, worked with, argued with and fought with people of all shapes, sizes, colours, nationalities, mind didnt fight with the female ones, wink wink.

I have met right bastards in most groups. Mind I have also met some crakers. when I was a young guy, dabidabidoo

 

And their beer is not bad!

 

You would need a damned fine mind indeed to work this out.For what it's worth I think we are all racist.It's purely a question of where you draw the line.Predjudices left unchecked can turn to hatred very quickly with frightening consequences.

 

where to start lol I am not racist at all, not that i have ever had much to do with other races, but thats not through choice, just circumstance.

I think it could be the Andy Murray/Lennox Lewis syndrome, when they win they are good Brits, when they loose they are lousy scots/canadian.

It could be political correctness gone mad as well, kids cant sing Baa Baa Black sheep these days, its Baa Baa Rainbow sheep, when have you ever seen a bloody rainbow sheep (unless you are tripping lol) so pushing this makes some resent it so its having the opposite effect as what was planned.

as for Sunderland AFC, I believe you love/follow the team as a whole, the players come 2nd in that love, as long as the players on the field play to the best of their ability, then all is well, its when they dont (but thats for all races I suppose) then supporters start getting on at them. But it is a team game, not individuals so much.

I do think one of the problems is segragation, Ok its not apartheid or Orlando (if you go away from the tourist bits, its an eye opener) but you will get estates where 95% are white, and other times where estates are 95% other races. there needs to be a lot more mix I think. the other big one is "they are taking our jobs" but if they are skilled and we are short of those skills, then fine (like football i suppose, if a British player wants 100,000 a week and will cost 30mil or you can get another race player from abroad who is just as good for 1mil 20,000 a week then supporters are fine with it), I have no problem with that, its companies I have a problem with, getting them to do unskilled cheap labour which us Brits would not stand for (esp with the min wage) or outsourcing these jobs away from the UK to India etc just so they can pay the workers a lot less, its not the workers fault, its the companies I feel, but others see it a lot different then me.

and others just dont like them because of the colour of their skin, which I dont really understand at all tbh.

I dont think there is 1 definitive answer. (and i probably rambled on and not answered the actual question either lol)

 

People who are racist but then cheer on Gyan, etc., just prove one thing - racists are ****ing thick.

Racism makes no sense at all.

 

Like you say Blackcat It could be big confusing issue....and one you want to be on the right side of.To be honest the place I was brought up ....in Sunderland.... you would get into deep trouble defending yourself if you were caught on the wrong street never mind country or race We`ve always been the same Like Syd I can remember a time when it was a lot worse than it is now....We should all have had a good basic education and be able to reason things out tho when we come of age....like they (whoever "they" are) cant be two things.....They cant all be over here taking our jobs.....AND.....They cant all be over here on benefits.......so some things you reason out ....some things are morally right and some things should I hope are instinctive.....I cant think of anything more attractive than someone maybe with a different colour skin or being obviously from a different background with a North East accent.....If I hear that I melt...a racist wouldnt He is to be pitied and condemned I cant think how anybody who has played or has a knowledge of playing would condone racism

 

I used to work with a Nigerian from the Ibo tribe and the way he used to talk about the Biafran tribe was more racist than the BNP;this guy was a Barrister and said he wasn't racist because the Biafrans are black.
There's no answer to that sort of logic;as far as I'm concerned I only see Red & White whenever I get to see the Lads.

 

I have in my time seen many examples of racism directed against white people, which sadly the authorities seem to fail to recognise. This in my experience tends to increase bitterness and resentment. The point I'm trying to make is that racism is by no means one dimensional, and should be deemed unacceptable from all quarters.

 

Some very good posts. thak you. It reminds me of a story I told on here some time ago, about when I was young, sorry for repeating myself.
My best mate was catholic and I was raised C of E. Each day I passed the catholic school on my way to me school an every day I shouted, "You fing left footer", he would shout back,"fing prody". Why did I do it, well its what we always did, after school I would play out with him every night, he was my best mate.

All I knew about catholics was they could never play out on a Sunday morning, always at church.

 

Excellent point MrRAW and I am guilty in my article of that very point by pointing out colour, mind its funny how a black imigrant is less acceptable than a white one to many.

 

There's nobody who creates more racial division than the Racial Equalities Commission. They create more trouble than they correct.

 

I hope you don't mind a Toon fan contributing to this great article!?

I don't understand it either. Lets face it every single person you meet has a relevant colour, sex, nationality and religion by which they can be grouped. But none of these attributes can in and of themselves aid or hurt you. It is how the person him/herself acts towards you that will help, hurt, please or offend. A black man who hits you did not choose to hurt you because of his colour but because he has a violent or hurtful nature and if he helps you out he is generous and kind for the same reason. It is his action that defines his nature and not his colour.

Therefore to judge entire groups of people based upon such criteria is ignorant and foolish. Personally i would not want to be judged by the actions of every other white, male, british, atheist and therefore I will not act in the same way towards anybody else.

Sorry for invading your thread and going on a bit but with issues like this I feel it is important to contribute.

 

No intrusion at all Donkey, cant say we are against discrimination but go away. Good points made and I just think its important to talk about it, I know we have people out there who dont agree with our views but funny how quiet they are.

 

how can you tell if a foreigner is being racist?? if you cannot speak there language.

oooops sorry forgot only the british are racist