Pompey Yid
Vital Champions League
So bloody simple, for me BLM are alienating themselves and causing growing unrest amongst all non blacks.
Racism
- Thread starter pjones40
- Start date
Greavswasthegreatest
Vital Football Legend
Can someone enlighten me as to why some factions are saying a slogan like 'All Lives Matter' is a racial statement...I can't fathom this out in my tiny mind!
Harry-Kari
Vital 1st Team Regular
Apparently because whites are privileged so it doesn’t acknowledge the oppression of the black community...it’s interesting because last year in the States police forces killed twice as many white men as black and in Chicago something like 80% of black murders are by black people themselves...there is no logic.
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
I am past the resentment stage now in reference to multiculturalism. I was skeptical of it due to crime and terrorism but we all have to move on and live together and work together to make our society better.
Ethnic groups all have their own problems along with everyone else. Such is our population mix that we have to embrace and accept it. The division has stop from all sides and the resentment , it just fuels negativity.
We all need to be honest and open about how we feel and what we want for our society. I just want peace and harmony. Any barrier to that needs attention.
Ethnic groups all have their own problems along with everyone else. Such is our population mix that we have to embrace and accept it. The division has stop from all sides and the resentment , it just fuels negativity.
We all need to be honest and open about how we feel and what we want for our society. I just want peace and harmony. Any barrier to that needs attention.
muttley
Alert Team
What annoyed me the most is that on BBC Sports headline about Prem players wearing BLM on their backs they didn't choose just 3 Prem players shirts to generically talk about the overall support. They chose Tanganga, Aurier and Ndombele's shirts. That in itself is back handed racism. Obviously, they didn't choose Dele Alli because he clearly wasn't black enough !!!
Do the main stream media think we don't see this stuff?
Do the main stream media think we don't see this stuff?
RichmondSpur
Vital Football Hero
The issue is the generation of bigotry, ignorance, and oppression passed down through the ages of the white population. That history of racism is still being passed down today, we see and hear of it in society, institutional racism in the police force, and on the terraces & football field, whether foreign or domestic. As these systemic racist, attitudes, and behaviours exist, it is difficult to see change. BLM and the black population are 1000% Right to stand up and protest.
D
Departed
Guest
If they don't nothing will change.
D
Departed
Guest
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
I have read that the BLM slogan is a cry for help, not an anti White protest. That's debatable and pulling down statues is possibly not the way to win friends.
I do think the BAME population needs help though. That help needs to be formulated and acted upon. The problems run very deep.
43 % of single parent families are Black or Mixed race , 25 % are Black of those. So there is a problem with family stability and parenting. Imagine the pressure on a single mum trying to bring up her kids with no father in such a dangerous environment.
Black on Black youth stabbings in London is a massive problem and is drug related and possibly a result of family stability. These youths are being groomed by older individuals.
Prison population is by far biased towards Black inmates both male and female. That means criminality is more prevalent in the Black population as a % compared to others.
There are many more factors but the parenting or mentoring problem is where I would start.
I do think the BAME population needs help though. That help needs to be formulated and acted upon. The problems run very deep.
43 % of single parent families are Black or Mixed race , 25 % are Black of those. So there is a problem with family stability and parenting. Imagine the pressure on a single mum trying to bring up her kids with no father in such a dangerous environment.
Black on Black youth stabbings in London is a massive problem and is drug related and possibly a result of family stability. These youths are being groomed by older individuals.
Prison population is by far biased towards Black inmates both male and female. That means criminality is more prevalent in the Black population as a % compared to others.
There are many more factors but the parenting or mentoring problem is where I would start.
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
Jordan Walker Brown paralysed and will never walk again. Tasered by police and fell off a wall. He was avoiding arrest and in possession of drugs, he had previously been in prison.
He says he was targeted because he is black !!.
He says he was targeted because he is black !!.
Nick Real Deal
Vital Football Legend
I just watched video footage on social media of the Brixton riots last night. Police vehicles being smashed up , 22 police injured etc.
Spursex
Alert Team
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/dear-england-gareth-southgate-euros-soccer
Jun 8, 2021
Dear England,
It has been an extremely difficult year. Everyone in this country has been directly affected by isolation and loss. But we have also seen countless examples of heroism and sacrifice. It’s given us all a new understanding of the fragility of life and what really matters. When you think of the grand scheme of things, perhaps football doesn’t seem so important. And what I want to speak about today is much bigger than football.
As we go into this summer, I know that there will be a lot of emotion tied up in the Euros, and in this England team. I can’t possibly hope to speak for an entire country, but I would like to share a few things with you, as we begin this journey.
There’s something I tell our players before every England game, and the reason that I repeat it is because I really believe it with all my heart.
I tell them that when you go out there, in this shirt, you have the opportunity to produce moments that people will remember forever.
You are a part of an experience that lasts in the collective consciousness of our country.
We saw that during Russia 2018, with the street parties, the barbecues and with every drop of beer thrown into the air in celebration. When England play, it’s not a few thousand — or even a few million — watching on subscription. You are representing more than 50 million people.
You remember where you were watching England games. And who you were watching with. And who you were at the time.
The first England match I really remember watching was in the 1982 World Cup, when I was 11. It was the first World Cup England had qualified for in my lifetime and I was obsessed. I had the wall chart, ready to fill in with every result, every goalscorer, every detail.
I rushed home from school for England’s opener against France to see Bryan Robson score after just 27 seconds! To witness that as a young Manchester United-supporting midfielder whose hero was Robson … well, it’s safe to say I was hooked.
Later that same year, I watched Luther Blissett get a hat trick in a 9-0 win over Luxembourg. That specific result might have been forgotten by many but it really stuck for me.
Every game, no matter the opposition, has the potential to create a lifelong memory for an England fan somewhere.
Why do we care so much?
Like with our own memories of watching England, everyone has a different idea of what it actually means to be English. What pride means.
For me, personally, my sense of identity and values is closely tied to my family and particularly my granddad. He was a fierce patriot and a proud military man, who served during World War II.
The idea of representing “Queen and country” has always been important to me. We do pageantry so well in Britain, and, growing up, things like the Queen’s silver jubilee and royal weddings had an impact on me.
Because of my granddad, I’ve always had an affinity for the military and service in the name of your country — though the consequence of my failure in representing England will never be as high as his. My granddad’s values were instilled in me from a young age and I couldn’t help but think of him when I lined up to sing the national anthem before my first international caps.
My belief is that everyone has that pride. And that includes the players.
Players are fans too, after all. That’s how it starts. It starts with kids sitting in front of TVs, with wall charts and heroes.
Undoubtedly, we’re in a different era now, where footballers aren’t as accessible to fans as they once were. They don’t ride the same bus home from games, or meet in the pub for a pint and a post-match analysis.
But, despite all the changes in modern football, what cannot be questioned about the current generation of England players is their pride in representing this country.
This idea that some players don’t know what it means to play for England — or don’t care — has become something of a false narrative.
You don’t need to dig deep to realise that.
You only need to see what I see when an under-15 comes into St. George’s Park for the first time, or when a senior player arrives on their first call-up. The pride for them, their families and their communities back home is huge.
The journey to earn an England cap is an incredibly difficult one, regardless of background or circumstance.
Only around 1,200 players have represented England at senior men’s level. Ever.
It’s a profound privilege. Don’t forget, many of our lads started out at Football League clubs like Barnsley, MK Dons and Sheffield United. Their backgrounds are humble. For them to make it to this point as one of the chosen few in England’s history … well, it simply doesn't happen without pride.
This is a special group. Humble, proud and liberated in being their true selves.
Our players are role models. And, beyond the confines of the pitch, we must recognise the impact they can have on society. We must give them the confidence to stand up for their teammates and the things that matter to them as people.
I have never believed that we should just stick to football.
I know my voice carries weight, not because of who I am but because of the position that I hold. At home, I’m below the kids and the dogs in the pecking order but publicly I am the England men’s football team manager. I have a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players.
It’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate.
Social media has been a key resource in giving our players a platform and has been a positive tool in so many ways. In fact, I feel like this generation of England players is closer to the supporters than they have been for decades. Despite the polarisation we see in society, these lads are on the same wavelength as you on many issues.
I see players scrolling on their phones straight after the final whistle and I think … Hmmm, is that a particularly good idea?
Reading abusive comments on Twitter or Instagram is never going to help performance.
There are genuine risks for our players online and I will always want to protect them, but I would never put rules on how or when they use their accounts while on England duty. I trust them and know they are mature enough to make their own decisions, to do what’s right for their mental health and to keep being a force for good as we strive for a better society.
The last 18 months have put added pressure on everyone, I know. Venting that might have taken place while walking out of the stadium, or in the pub has been transferred online. I get that. However, there are things I will never understand.
Why would you tag someone in on a conversation that is abusive?
Why would you choose to insult somebody for something as ridiculous as the colour of their skin?
Why?
Unfortunately for those people that engage in that kind of behaviour, I have some bad news. You’re on the losing side. It’s clear to me that we are heading for a much more tolerant and understanding society, and I know our lads will be a big part of that.
It might not feel like it at times, but it’s true. The awareness around inequality and the discussions on race have gone to a different level in the last 12 months alone.
I am confident that young kids of today will grow up baffled by old attitudes and ways of thinking.
For many of that younger generation, your notion of Englishness is quite different from my own. I understand that, too.
I understand that on this island, we have a desire to protect our values and traditions — as we should — but that shouldn’t come at the expense of introspection and progress.
Regardless of your upbringing and politics, what is clear is that we are an incredible nation — relative to our size and population — that has contributed so much to the arts, science and sport.
We do have a special identity and that remains a powerful motivator.
In a funny way, I see the same Englishness represented by the fans who protested against the Super League. We are independent thinkers. We speak out on the issues that matter to us and we are proud of that.
Of course, my players and I will be judged on winning matches. Only one team can win the Euros. We have never done it before and we are desperate to do it for the first time.
Believe me.
But, the reality is that the result is just a small part of it. When England play, there's much more at stake than that.
It’s about how we conduct ourselves on and off the pitch, how we bring people together, how we inspire and unite, how we create memories that last beyond the 90 minutes. That last beyond the summer. That last forever.
I think about all the young kids who will be watching this summer, filling out their first wall charts. No matter what happens, I just hope that their parents, teachers and club managers will turn to them and say, “Look. That’s the way to represent your country. That’s what England is about. That is what’s possible.”
If we can do that, it will be a summer to be proud of.
Yours,
Gareth Southgate
Jun 8, 2021
Dear England,
It has been an extremely difficult year. Everyone in this country has been directly affected by isolation and loss. But we have also seen countless examples of heroism and sacrifice. It’s given us all a new understanding of the fragility of life and what really matters. When you think of the grand scheme of things, perhaps football doesn’t seem so important. And what I want to speak about today is much bigger than football.
As we go into this summer, I know that there will be a lot of emotion tied up in the Euros, and in this England team. I can’t possibly hope to speak for an entire country, but I would like to share a few things with you, as we begin this journey.
There’s something I tell our players before every England game, and the reason that I repeat it is because I really believe it with all my heart.
I tell them that when you go out there, in this shirt, you have the opportunity to produce moments that people will remember forever.
You are a part of an experience that lasts in the collective consciousness of our country.
We saw that during Russia 2018, with the street parties, the barbecues and with every drop of beer thrown into the air in celebration. When England play, it’s not a few thousand — or even a few million — watching on subscription. You are representing more than 50 million people.
You remember where you were watching England games. And who you were watching with. And who you were at the time.
The first England match I really remember watching was in the 1982 World Cup, when I was 11. It was the first World Cup England had qualified for in my lifetime and I was obsessed. I had the wall chart, ready to fill in with every result, every goalscorer, every detail.
I rushed home from school for England’s opener against France to see Bryan Robson score after just 27 seconds! To witness that as a young Manchester United-supporting midfielder whose hero was Robson … well, it’s safe to say I was hooked.
Later that same year, I watched Luther Blissett get a hat trick in a 9-0 win over Luxembourg. That specific result might have been forgotten by many but it really stuck for me.
Every game, no matter the opposition, has the potential to create a lifelong memory for an England fan somewhere.
Why do we care so much?
Like with our own memories of watching England, everyone has a different idea of what it actually means to be English. What pride means.
For me, personally, my sense of identity and values is closely tied to my family and particularly my granddad. He was a fierce patriot and a proud military man, who served during World War II.
The idea of representing “Queen and country” has always been important to me. We do pageantry so well in Britain, and, growing up, things like the Queen’s silver jubilee and royal weddings had an impact on me.
Because of my granddad, I’ve always had an affinity for the military and service in the name of your country — though the consequence of my failure in representing England will never be as high as his. My granddad’s values were instilled in me from a young age and I couldn’t help but think of him when I lined up to sing the national anthem before my first international caps.
My belief is that everyone has that pride. And that includes the players.
Every game, no matter the opposition, has the potential to create a lifelong memory for an England fan somewhere.
- Gareth Southgate
What is sometimes forgotten is just how much it means to the players. - Gareth Southgate
Players are fans too, after all. That’s how it starts. It starts with kids sitting in front of TVs, with wall charts and heroes.
Undoubtedly, we’re in a different era now, where footballers aren’t as accessible to fans as they once were. They don’t ride the same bus home from games, or meet in the pub for a pint and a post-match analysis.
But, despite all the changes in modern football, what cannot be questioned about the current generation of England players is their pride in representing this country.
This idea that some players don’t know what it means to play for England — or don’t care — has become something of a false narrative.
You don’t need to dig deep to realise that.
You only need to see what I see when an under-15 comes into St. George’s Park for the first time, or when a senior player arrives on their first call-up. The pride for them, their families and their communities back home is huge.
The journey to earn an England cap is an incredibly difficult one, regardless of background or circumstance.
Only around 1,200 players have represented England at senior men’s level. Ever.
It’s a profound privilege. Don’t forget, many of our lads started out at Football League clubs like Barnsley, MK Dons and Sheffield United. Their backgrounds are humble. For them to make it to this point as one of the chosen few in England’s history … well, it simply doesn't happen without pride.
This is a special group. Humble, proud and liberated in being their true selves.
Our players are role models. And, beyond the confines of the pitch, we must recognise the impact they can have on society. We must give them the confidence to stand up for their teammates and the things that matter to them as people.
I have never believed that we should just stick to football.
I know my voice carries weight, not because of who I am but because of the position that I hold. At home, I’m below the kids and the dogs in the pecking order but publicly I am the England men’s football team manager. I have a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players.
It’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate.
Social media has been a key resource in giving our players a platform and has been a positive tool in so many ways. In fact, I feel like this generation of England players is closer to the supporters than they have been for decades. Despite the polarisation we see in society, these lads are on the same wavelength as you on many issues.
This is a special group. Humble, proud and liberated in being their true selves.
- Gareth Southgate
That said, there are times when my parental instincts kick in. I can’t help it. After all, I’m old enough to be a father to most of my players!- Gareth Southgate
I see players scrolling on their phones straight after the final whistle and I think … Hmmm, is that a particularly good idea?
Reading abusive comments on Twitter or Instagram is never going to help performance.
There are genuine risks for our players online and I will always want to protect them, but I would never put rules on how or when they use their accounts while on England duty. I trust them and know they are mature enough to make their own decisions, to do what’s right for their mental health and to keep being a force for good as we strive for a better society.
The last 18 months have put added pressure on everyone, I know. Venting that might have taken place while walking out of the stadium, or in the pub has been transferred online. I get that. However, there are things I will never understand.
Why would you tag someone in on a conversation that is abusive?
Why would you choose to insult somebody for something as ridiculous as the colour of their skin?
Why?
Unfortunately for those people that engage in that kind of behaviour, I have some bad news. You’re on the losing side. It’s clear to me that we are heading for a much more tolerant and understanding society, and I know our lads will be a big part of that.
It might not feel like it at times, but it’s true. The awareness around inequality and the discussions on race have gone to a different level in the last 12 months alone.
I am confident that young kids of today will grow up baffled by old attitudes and ways of thinking.
For many of that younger generation, your notion of Englishness is quite different from my own. I understand that, too.
I understand that on this island, we have a desire to protect our values and traditions — as we should — but that shouldn’t come at the expense of introspection and progress.
Regardless of your upbringing and politics, what is clear is that we are an incredible nation — relative to our size and population — that has contributed so much to the arts, science and sport.
We do have a special identity and that remains a powerful motivator.
In a funny way, I see the same Englishness represented by the fans who protested against the Super League. We are independent thinkers. We speak out on the issues that matter to us and we are proud of that.
Of course, my players and I will be judged on winning matches. Only one team can win the Euros. We have never done it before and we are desperate to do it for the first time.
Believe me.
But, the reality is that the result is just a small part of it. When England play, there's much more at stake than that.
It’s about how we conduct ourselves on and off the pitch, how we bring people together, how we inspire and unite, how we create memories that last beyond the 90 minutes. That last beyond the summer. That last forever.
I think about all the young kids who will be watching this summer, filling out their first wall charts. No matter what happens, I just hope that their parents, teachers and club managers will turn to them and say, “Look. That’s the way to represent your country. That’s what England is about. That is what’s possible.”
If we can do that, it will be a summer to be proud of.
Yours,
Gareth Southgate
D
Departed
Guest
I disagree Pomp. It's more a case of people not being given the opportunity because they are not of the same background and culture as the people hiring. "They don't look like me".
What's happened in the last year is that in more and more cases if you have two equally talented candidates the people hiring are making a concerted effort to hire the choice that doesn't look like them.
This is a very good thing that needs to be in people's consciousness. It's the unconscious bias that has prevented change. Outright racism is easy to spot and battle. It's the subtle "sticking to your own kind" that people don't even realize they are doing that is systematically damaging.
muttley
Alert Team
Love your logical view about removing prejudice and the tie back to bias. I've done bias training, which a lot of psychologists are now saying is flawed. I got something out of it though.
However, we now need to acknowledge that in some places we're now beyond that point. Positive discrimination is becoming quite pervasive and is equally as bad. It is also illegal but also impossible to prove.
So imagine your two equally talented candidates tuning up for the interview, but one of them knows they probably shouldn't have bothered as they don't tick the right HR box. That could be because they already know the BAME, female or millennial is going to get the job or promotion.
I think employers need to now acknowledge that this is equally as real as what we were originally trying to solve in the first place. Especially with internal hiring and promotion. I've witnessed so much of this.
D
Departed
Guest
We are in a correcting period in the private sector. It's already happened in the public sector. Whites will just have to deal with it, as those aren't white that have had to deal with it for eons.
sjm1985
Vital Reserves Team
Dangerous Topic.
my opinion:
I believe that the majority of the booers are people from the right wing who would never allow their daughter to marry a black man. But they would also say they are no racist.
I am pretty sure that every racist who was in the stadium was booing.
D
Departed
Guest
It is a dangerous subject but we need to deescalate the emotion and look for practical solutions as well as recognizing all of our own inherent biases and acknowledge we ALL have them.
99% of problems surrounding an individual are solved by looking in the mirror, the other 1% are the BIG ones.
Spursex
Alert Team
Seriously, 'never allow' !? - LOL! Try saying that to my daughters, (be prepared to run) think you're stuck in a very old-fashioned generational view there!
