Excellent initiative and I will be supporting (as with recent Rainbow Blades). If anyone thinks these are a good idea then why not sign up?
This thread and many others highlight both different and shifting opinions, it gets tetchy at times. I think this is mainly a good thing, exchanging and challenging opinions both stops people feeling silenced and encourages debate. The Lane and this forum seems dominated by older, white, straight blokes, and boy does it show sometimes. However, folk are getting called out and often giving reasoned responses, this is how opinions change... slowly.
I would hope all on here abhor the Didzy abuse. The BLM movement has clearly polarised opinion, but where the issues it raises were dismissed as 'loony left' when I was younger (e.g. institutional racism) many now seem to agree, or at least are prepared to listen and have an open mind. We have shifted to a more liberal and multicultural society (yes, even the Tories), and although some disagree with this, I feel fellow Blades should be proud to listen, sometimes feel uncomfortable, and then be allowed to (rationally and civilly) disagree.
So, my point (well you did ask
. Like some others on here I disagree with the article that using terms like black as a descriptor is necessarily negative (it clearly can be, but depends on use and context). A while ago I was out with some Cardiff lads (Soul Crew, don't ask) and one guy was telling a story about a mate. He was trying to explain which one from the nearby crowd it was and went round the houses before another one said "you mean the black lad?" It was indeed him, and the story continued, no problem. His mates, and the black lad in question when told, took the piss for avoiding the obvious way he could be distinguished (cos them Welsh all look the same to me ;-). Similarly in a team of white players if I am pointing out a new signing or whatever I may say "the black lad", similarly I may say "the white lad" if the group are black.
I think the fear of using descriptive words like this is understandable but counterproductive. It engenders myths like 'you can't even say blackboard anymore' that I saw on this very forum yesterday. The myths about 'blackboard' or 'black coffee' or 'baa, baa black sheep' are not helpful. There is a genuine point that 'black sheep', like 'black magic' or 'blackballed', have negative connotations and this is a product of our history and ideology. But, let's feel free to talk about it and not belittle anyone who has a different opinion (although overtly racist trolls can do one, it is not the same thing). If you think 'well that is just stupid' then you don't know much about language, you should do some reading.
I agree with our recent Leicester fan that there is often unconscious racism on here (although I don't call it out as he did, as I think there is time and place to pick battles, but if this thread is not it, I don't know where is!). He pointed out that rather than attacking Garth Crooks for just being a know nowt there had been a racial inference - he was correct and was rounded on by quite a few. I have seen many references to Crooks, and others, linked to 'quotas' and the like. This is to me covert racism.
With Blades I gave been quite lucky not to hear much racism over the years (my old Kop mates are lefty types so this might help). Worse I recall was some drunken scrotes singing Islamophobic chants at Oldham away. I was with my family and did not challenge them, it would probably have ended in aggressive confrontation and I felt it was not the time. A bloke behind me on the SS a few years ago made the odd 'ooga booga' noise at black (opposition) players, I did have a quiet word and it stopped, no drama.
I also dislike the supposedly complimentary chants we have had about the 'manhood' of black players. It feeds into old stereotypes. This, to me, is covert racism.
The jokes thread on here uses several racial stereotypes (although I found 'Tonto Papadopoulos' hilarious). The most common is the 'Paddy' trope. Several of my Irish family do not like this sort of stuff (some don't care and use it themselves), they think it is covert racism.
So these are the less obvious points I wanted to make about race. For years one of the things that has made me proud to be a Blade is that I can say I think we aren't bad with racism (I'm not saying it does not exist), certainly compared with some Leeds, Wednesday and Rotherham fans I have known.
This place, for a footy forum, is generally quite balanced and forward thinking about racism. We are getting there with sexuality. Sexism has come a long way, but if you call for or appreciate 'tits' on long threads, post sexualised images out of any context (including avatars) I think it is equivalent to page 3 of The Sun, a throwback to less enlightened times. If you like this stuff, fair enough, but there is this place called the internet where you can fill your boots. When my daughters browse this forum they can take it, but they think it is pretty pathetic and it does put them off as it seems so removed from the world they inhabit. Similarly the 'quota' stuff about women is often tiresome.
However, I do not want to distract from the OP and the focus on racism. You asked for some thoughts! Well done again to OP.
