Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados TODAY Inc.
by Vincent “Boo” Nurse
England has lost a football game and the fallout from the result has resonated across the land. Persons who can best be described as morons have taken to social media and
other forms of communication to heap racist abuse on the three Black players who missed their penalty kicks which led to the team’s defeat.
The nature of the abuse is not suitable to be repeated anywhere in a civilised society. It has been villainous, evil in its intent and above all, sad and pathetic. The nation is in an uproar and opinion is generally supportive of the players. However, it would be nice if political leaders were to act strongly to stamp out racism in all walks of life, whether it is a game of football or one of tiddlywinks.
Players from all sectors in the sporting world have in recent times ‘taken the knee’ to signal a strong protest against racism in the country. The government, in typical style, have made mealy-mouthed comments and issued many platitudes that currently lack the substance of positive action. Indeed, one of the most senior members of government, none other than Ms Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, a lady of Asian lineage, rubbished the act of taking the knee as gesture politics.
The despicable acts by some English football supporters have now led the Home Secretary to appear to soften her stance and describe their behaviour as “disgusting”. The apparent reversal of attitude has not gone unnoticed, particularly by Tyrone Mings, a Black footballer who plays for England.
Mings has made a withering attack on Ms Patel. He said in part: “You cannot stoke the fire of racism by criticising taking the knee as gesture politics and then pretend to be disgusted when that same racism is now happening.”
Many would have us believe that the abuse which has been poured on the players has come from a loutish class of supporter and is therefore reprehensible. However, this is not necessarily the case. A recorded comment by a Conservative Member of Parliament shows clearly that many of the English supporters, regardless of their standing in the community have no regard or respect for Black players or by extension Black people.
In an amazing overview of the game Ms Natalie Elphicke wrote: “Would it be ungenerous to suggest Rashford (one of the penalty takers) should have spent more time perfecting his game and less time playing politics?” Can you believe this comment? The lady is being idly critical of a young man who spent the last year fighting for and winning the right for thousands of poor and hungry children in this country to receive a daily meal during their holidays. I rather think I like
Mr Rashford’s brand of politics.
Further comment on this matter would serve to debase any form of intelligence.
The former and legendary Liverpool football manager, the late Bill Shankly is quoted as having said that football was more important than life and death. Whilst those opinions were said in the 1960’s and were perhaps made in jest, there is no place in the modern world for any semblance of such a thought.
Football fans throughout the world should be reminded that football and for that matter, all other sporting pastimes are merely games and the results should not be the platform on which to plant poisonous and racist abuse on Black people regardless of the level of participation, whether it is on the local park or in Wembley arena.
The contribution of Black players to the success of the English national team is and has been immense through the ages. It is not healthy that the supporters are fair-weather friends who are happy to jump with joy in success and then abuse the players in the inevitable event of failure one day.
The fickle nature of their support and respect for Black players is transparent and speaks more of those fans’ inadequacies in a civilised society than it can elsewhere. They mask their nasty prejudices behind pints of lager, hide in the privacy of their closet and in anonymity of social media.
The three fine and upstanding young men, Messrs Saka, Sancho and Rashford have contributed more in their short lives to this country and society than any combination of those moronic supporters will ever do. It is to the credit that these gentlemen have stood tall, dignified and publicly unruffled.
We can now return to the aforesaid comments of the late Mr Shankly and turn them on their heads. The assertion can therefore be made with some purpose that nothing is more important than life itself, especially when the embodiment of that life is about a love and respect for your fellowman which is buttressed by offering a helping hand and understanding regardless of colour, class or creed.
In the final analysis we are all born equal, and none is more equal than others. Maybe there is as lesson here for our rulers as they sit in their palaces. Does anyone really deeply care about twenty-two men chasing after a ball around a park? Or, more pointedly does it really matter who reaches it first, for after all it can never be more important than life itself.
Menelik Shabazz 30 MAY 1954 – 28 JUNE 2021
A View from London is sad to report the death of Barbadian film director Menelik Shabazz (formerly Thomas Brathwaite). Menelik was born in St John, Barbados in 1954 and later emigrated to the UK with his family at age five. He was an award-winning film director, producer and writer and was widely known as a key pioneer in the development of the Black film industry.
His notable works included the award-winning movie Burning an Illusion (1981) and Watching for Love. Shabazz fought valiantly to bring the film industry to Barbados and he directed the excellent TV pilot programme Lovers Rock which was set and filmed in Barbados and featured a number of Barbadian actors, notably Alison Hinds.
Unfortunately, he was unable to get the required funding and the series was not fulfilled. Robert Small, a filmmaker from Redding, Berkshire, was a friend and worked with him over a number of years. Small said: “Menelik is a great loss to the Black community in all ways and specifically the Black film industry.
Menelik regretted that there was not enough work done with the Black community and he had hoped that more emphasis would be put on making films which impacted on the lives in our community. Menelik recently died in Zimbabwe after a diabetes-related illness.
Vincent “Boo” Nurse is a Barbadian living in London who is a retired land Revenue Manager, Pensions and Investment Adviser. He is passionate about the development of his island home and disapora.
