Dealing with Racism I Mini-Blog #AskASoccerPro Show

A question I get asked a lot is, how do I deal with racism and racial abuse? I know some of you are wondering how to deal with this issue, especially if you’re being racially abused during a game. I know this can be a hard topic to talk about, so thank you for asking me this during this week’s live, Sebastian.

Everyone deals with being targeted with racial epithets and phrases during the game differently. Personally, I just laugh. I think it’s funny. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t find the words or language they use to be funny. What I think is hysterical is they think they are going to have any effect on me with what they say.

Individuals saying these racial slurs think that they are going to hurt me and throw me off my game or make me feel ‘less than.’ They actually empower me, because I know they are scared of me.

How I see it, if someone Is hurling racial slurs or sexist slurs, or any other type of phobic language at you, what they are really telling you is, “I’m super scared of you and I don’t know anything other than to say this, because I see it can make you mad.”

Someone Only Knows You If They Know How To Make You MadSomeone only really knows you if they know how to make you mad. So, if they’re using that language, and it makes you mad, from their perspective they believe they know who you are because they are able to get a reaction out of you.

Remember, they’re using this word or words because they’re scared of what you are and what you represent. Once you have this figured out, you have them beat in the long run, because the only defense they have is to use this disgusting language to elicit an emotional response. 

Don’t give these individuals the outward response, any type of gesture they can use as proof to justify why they are calling you names and treating you the way they are.

 I don’t ever want to give someone that type of power over me.

See? These are all subjective ways to assess our value. Now what is also subjective, is your ability to convince someone else to compensate you, with their time, money, or attention in exchange for whatever you believe you are providing to them in value.

Capturing our value is really a multilayered process and I’m looking to delve further into it with you over the next week!

Make sure to check out the full-length episode here, and the PS Clip about 'Dealing with Racism' below!

 

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