Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I REMEMBER EVERY TIME I WAS RACIALLY ABUSED..YOU NEVER FORGET
Sherlock calls on GAA to act on racism and embrace current movement for change
JASON SHERLOCK says the racist abuse he suffered during his career may leave a life-long scar.
The ex-dublin star wants the GAA to embrace the current movement for change – to be pro-active in the fight against racism after several inter-county players spoke out about their own experiences in recent days.
Sherlock said: “It’s something you can’t really gauge. There’s no barometer.
“I remember every situation I had where I was slagged – be it by a player, a crowd, a manager. And that doesn’t leave you.
“You still harness all the self-doubt, all the anger, frustration, emotion. Us talking about this, if that can assist one boy or girl and makes things a bit better for them, it’s worth exploring and having the conversation.”
The All-ireland winner also played League of Ireland soccer and basketball for Ireland.
“I reacted and responded to things differently the older I got,” he told The Sunday Game last night.
“Part of this conversation is understanding if you’re on the receiving end of racism but also understanding if you potentially are curious or vindictive or you ask questions of people because of the colour of their skin.
“If we can understand the impact that can make, maybe it can change the behaviours of certain people – because that’s a lifetime, it’s a generation. That doesn’t leave you.”
Sherlock was the subject of a powerful 2018 documentary that revealed his struggle to accept his Chinese heritage.
“You see a lot of our GAA athletes and sports athletes say how they use sport to be accepted, to try to fit in,” he said.
“When the colour of your skin singles you out, you look for that acceptance.
“It was very much the case for me because I wanted to fit in. In a lot of ways I denied my heritage.
“The GAA has a community that can make an impact on boys and girls. It doesn’t matter how good they are at hurling and football – that’s the challenge that I’d love the GAA to explore.”
Sherlock believes the
organisation can play a leadership role during these “emotional and divisive” times.
“I’d like to bring it back to each individual to look at themselves to see what impact they can have, can they challenge themselves in terms of their own bias,” he said.
“How much time do we spend on giving confidence to our young boys and girls, showing them what’s right or wrong?
“The traits that we used with Dublin over the last number of years, they started with care, respect, empathy – all traits that can give to our kids. Whether we’re just non-racist or can we be anti-racist, can we actively do something to help young boys and girls who might need it because of the colour of their skin? I’ve been very lucky to have received an unbelievable career, been welcomed in every part of Ireland because of that. That’s something
I’d recommend to any boy and girl. Can we look at what we do in our summer camps with kids, at how inclusive our clubs are for people who wouldn’t traditionally go into GAA clubs?”
Sherlock believes referees must also be better educated on dealing with racism.
“There are experiences where they’re still not sure what’s right or wrong,” he said.
“I was empowered when I saw an Aaron Cunningham or a Lee Chin (left), they knew what was right and wrong in terms of what was said and wasn’t said. “We all have a rewe sponsibility there, not just the referee. It’s obviously for the moderators to give them the tools to be able to decide on what’s right or wrong.
“We know GAA is a passionate game and we don’t want to take that out. But are there comments made at matches that shouldn’t be made? Do we do anything about that?
“It’s important that we ensure that we continue to have a diverse and inclusive GAA going forward.”
Care, respect, empathy... they are all traits that we can give to our kids