Racism in English rugby

[Puja]

Luther Burrell coming out and talking about the amount of casual racism that he's experienced: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61942082

Depressing, but unsurprising.

Puja

[FKAS]

The RFU should call an enquiry. In an ideal world we'd name, shame and ban but it's sadly not that easy.

[Mr Mwenda]

I'm glad he's talking about it. The extract I read in the guardian was so weird, speaking to a wide cultural problem. Simultaneously depressing, wince inducing and angering.

[Oakboy]

In the past I have witnessed 'racial' banter that made me cringe with embarrassment only to have the guys participating (of different skin colours) laugh and joke in obvious harmony. Now, that must stop apparently. Fair enough. What I don't understand is how you can condemn stuff from years back without fully considering context and attitudes that prevailed THEN.

[Puja]

Just seen some of the actual quotes and holy hells do they make everything much worse:

“Things get said in jest without any thought. Every week, every fortnight. Comments about bananas when you’re making a smoothie in the morning. Comments about fried chicken when you’re out for dinner.

“I’ve heard things that you wouldn’t expect to hear 20 years ago. We had a hot day at training and I told one of the lads to put on their factor 50. Someone came back and said, ‘You don’t need it, Luth, put your carrot oil on’. Then another lad jumps in and says, ‘No, no, no, he’ll need it for where his shackles were as a slave’.

“Excuse my language but, what the f---? Where does that come from? Some players shake their head and others laugh along with it.

“People greet you as, ‘What’s up my n-----?’ It’s not meant in a bad way but when is it going to change? It’s a very, very raw subject. Over the past few years, it’s happened a lot. That’s the environment.

“It’s normalised because I allowed it to become normalised. I’d laugh it off. I’ve been a coward by not speaking up. Over the years, I’ve become thicker skinned. You know how long I’ve thought about talking about this. I will never name names but it’s gone on for too long.”

Jesus H Christ! I retract my use of the word "casual" from the opening post - that is fucking insane.

In the past I have witnessed 'racial' banter that made me cringe with embarrassment only to have the guys participating (of different skin colours) laugh and joke in obvious harmony. Now, that must stop apparently. Fair enough. What I don't understand is how you can condemn stuff from years back without fully considering context and attitudes that prevailed THEN.

The issue is that people dont want to be seen as a dick, as a bore, as someone who "can't take a joke", especially when they are in a minority in a group, so they do swallow it down and laugh along. This goes doubly if your cringing in embarrassment was done without any real outward effect, cause if they "take offence" then they're the one causing the problem and there's a good chance that they'll be the only one. Far easier to participate "in obvious harmony".

Also, we're not talking the 1920s here - this would be the 2010s, so I don't think you can bring out "context and attitudes that prevailed then".

Puja

[Raggs]

That's vile.

[Which Tyler]

WTF?

[Oakboy]

The issue is that people dont want to be seen as a dick, as a bore, as someone who "can't take a joke", especially when they are in a minority in a group, so they do swallow it down and laugh along. This goes doubly if your cringing in embarrassment was done without any real outward effect, cause if they "take offence" then they're the one causing the problem and there's a good chance that they'll be the only one. Far easier to participate "in obvious harmony".

Also, we're not talking the 1920s here - this would be the 2010s, so I don't think you can bring out "context and attitudes that prevailed then".

Puja

Bloody hell, Puja, I'm ancient but NOT that old! I was referring to the early 1990s. In one case I remember involving two serving Royal Marines, one black, one white, the black guy started the exchange. They were both in the home squash team. We, the arriving away team, were horrified but the other members of the home team assured us it was quite normal behaviour for them.

Things had changed by the 2010s as you point out.