Dear England,
About our racism problem. It isn’t an ignorant
minority, who can be shamed (or educated) into better behaviour. It is the
majority of us, at our worst. The good news is that no-one—not one of us—is
fully or solely defined by our worst. And our best is truly amazing, inspiring,
can hold its head high. But racism, and its side-kick xenophobia, is our
shame. And the cure for the poison of shame is not found in further shaming
(or, indeed, in educating) but in acceptance. Not the pretence that racism is
acceptable (denial), nor even inevitable (resignation), but the acceptance of
the truth, the acceptance of the alcoholic who confesses, “I am an alcoholic,
and I need the help of a higher power.” Without acceptance, without choosing to
love ourselves in our unloveliness as well as our presentable and easily
loveable characteristics—to not give up on ourselves—there can be no lasting
transformation.
We can address racism, in sport and every
arena of our lives. One day at a time. Together.
No comments:
Post a Comment