Sarah Harte: Gymnastics snub of black child a chance to evaluate Irish racism
Over the last fortnight, a video has been circulating of a young girl ignored by a judge distributing medals. She was the only black gymnast in the lineup. The girl is excited waiting to get her medal, realises that she has been snubbed, and her face falls.
Nobody in the venue, including other officials, intervene.
Presumably, some people watching the scene in the National Indoor Arena were confused thinking they were getting it wrong.
Maybe some were uneasy but remained mute. Others perhaps watched wanting what they were seeing not to be happening.
Last week, Gymnastics Ireland issued a statement unreservedly apologising to the gymnast and her family, saying they condemned “any form of racism whatsoever”, although the incident happened in March 2022.
In an earlier statement, Gymnastics Ireland said the official in question “accepted fully that what had happened had not been acceptable but stressed that it had not been intentional”. Reportedly a mediation settlement was reached with the family.
However, the gymnast’s mother has criticised the governing body for taking 18 months to say sorry publicly. Sport Against Racism Ireland (Sari) which uses the power of sport to challenge discrimination and to promote cultural integration has advised the family, who have received global support, including from legendary US gymnast Simone Biles.
Online, people — many living in Ireland — have commented that the incident didn’t receive enough coverage here, saying this points to a wider problem with racism in Irish society.
A selection of comments online includes:
“I think gets more coverage than the racism issue.”
“I’ve been saying for the longest time that Ireland’s denial that racism exists here is a HUGE impediment to development and change.”
“What values are the organiser (Gymnastics Ireland) teaching the children?”
Those quoted here are black, mixed race, or of a different ethnicity. They were part of a conversation started by entrepreneur Pyn Lim, founder and CEO of the European College of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery which is based in Dublin.
Ms Lim, who has lived in Ireland since 2006, has personal experience of racism in Ireland because of “her Asian appearance”.
This casual everyday racism has happened in her car, in taxis, in pharmacies, in restaurants, at school drop-offs, and work. She shrugs the incidents off, but what deeply concerns her is “Ireland’s perception as non-racist.
True anti-racism efforts can only be effective if there’s recognition of the problem’s depths.” During a discussion on the radio last weekend on a sports programme, one of the (white) contributors suggested that the vast majority of Irish people were not racist.
Ms Lim, whom I spoke with, is adamant that “there are many nice and good Irish people” and that her intention in sharing her experiences is “to shed light on the subtleties and complexities of racism and not to generalise or criticise all white individuals based on the actions of a few”.
Although, gradually, the sociological idea of being Irish is changing, until relatively recently we lived in an almost exclusively white monoculture.
As a result, we were socialised with cultural assumptions about race and ethnicity baked into language, children’s schoolyard rhymes and stories, literature, and film that leads us to unconsciously perpetuate patterns of racism.
Some microaggressions don’t come from a consciously bad place.
For example, asking somebody where they come from. It took me longer than it should have to realise that the question carried implicit assumptions about race, ethnicity, and nationality that were reductive, patronising, and probably unwelcome, if not deeply offensive.
It’s not simple curiosity if it alienates or “others” the recipient of the inquiry. Nor is this “political correctness gone mad” which is a tired observation that is often synonymous with somebody happy with the status quo, unwilling to learn, or to audit their opinions. It’s something we all must do, at various points in life even if for different reasons.
Last week, it was reported that the GAA is testing a programme in Monaghan in collaboration with Sari, consisting of interactive workshops. If the pilot works, it will be rolled out nationwide.
Apparently, there was huge interest from clubs in the programme because “people were aware that racial reference isn’t acceptable [and] want to be educated”.
Referring to the gymnastics incident, the Sari board reportedly said it believes the Government must make diversity and inclusion training a fundamental part of our education system.
That kind of training would have to kick in very early which is when unconscious biases kick in. Otherwise, children simply fill in the blanks themselves and not in a good way.
People often say that they don’t see colour.
Egalitarianism or colour blindness is a damaging notion, usually touted by white liberals.
It’s a comforting fairytale that we’re all one big happy human race and is predicated on the assumption that systems are neutral.
So, an injustice has been done to a young girl. There is now a perception at home and abroad that some of our sporting institutions are racist. Can you base a judgment on one incident?
No, but in March, the Irish Council for International Students reported that almost two-thirds of international students in Ireland have experienced or witnessed racism, with only one in 10 incidents reported to the authorities, which suggests racism is endemic even if we choose not to see it.
Our National Plan Against Racism was published in March with €1m in funding for anti-racism initiatives which seems low.
The English Law Society’s recent online guide to race and ethnicity terminology and language is worth a read. One sentence stands out: “You do not have to be completely free of racism or bias to be anti-racist.”
An interesting exercise in a US anti-racism programme for white people asks participants to write an incomplete sentence on a piece of paper and then finish it: “To me, being white means …” They have three minutes to write their response.
White people who rarely have to consider their racial identity are compelled to contrast the experience of others continually forced to navigate race and racism. Unsurprisingly, participants find it difficult to complete, and deeply uncomfortable.
Self-flagellation is not the answer to racism but if you’re white the temptation can be to keep the head down.
In theory, you abhor racism, but in reality, getting involved feels uncomfortable. There’s also a fear of joining the “white saviour” brigade, those unfortunate, presumptuous characters who put on their superhero capes, and pat themselves on their back for fighting racism.
Invariably, they see themselves as “saving” racially marginalised people from difficult circumstances sometimes sidelining them in the process as they take centre stage. There’s a fine line between helping and being performative.
And listening is probably a better stratagem than “teaching” and “protecting”.
Still, the silence in the video is striking. Sometimes what we don’t say is as important as what we do.
