Casual racism is prevalent in Australian cricket, feels Daniel Christian
Dan Christian has stated that 'casual racism' is prevalent in Australian cricket and revealed he has been subject to jokes about his colour of skin. He reckons that people don't do it with malice but there is certainly lack of education which, he feels, leads to ignorance and such practices.
One of the six Indigenous people to represent Australia in international cricket, Dan Christian has opened up on how he had to endure 'casual racism' throughout his cricket career. The all-rounder joined a growing list of cricketers who have opened up on racism they faced during their cricketing journey ever since the 'Black Lives Matter' movement came to the fore.
Also considered a champion of Indigenous causes in Australia cricket, Christian had advocated the inclusion of Indigenous round in the Big Bash League, last year. The 37-year-old also asserted that he has been getting lot of apology texts in the wake of Black Lives Matter movement. Christian said there have been 'throwaway lines' and jokes about his skin colour since he didn't look 'aboriginal'.
“I think it is an issue in Australian cricket, I don’t think it’s as in your face as you might see around the world or even elsewhere in Australian culture. I think it’s definitely there, it’s more of a casual racism, just little throwaway lines here and there made to be jokes, and a lot of that for me personally has been around the colour of my skin and the fact that I don’t look Aboriginal or whatever that means. That’s the most noticeable thing for me," Christian said in a discussion in Cricket Connecting Country series, wherein CA is trying to address the mistakes they have committed in dealing with Indigenous players and racial issues in Australia.
The right-hander, who represented the Kangaroos in 19 ODIs and 16 T20 internationals, feels that racism is there because of a lack of education and ignorance than any 'malice'. The hard-hitting batsman said it takes courage to call out friends and people around when they indulge in such acts but admitted that it's the only way to go about it would not be right to just sit back and pretend as if nothing happened.
“It‘s just something that comes with a lack of education and an ignorance. I don’t think a lot of people say it with any kind of malice, it’s just that they don’t understand and don’t know.
“We just need to educate ourselves and encourage others around us to educate themselves.
“And part of that education is calling it out and having the guts to call it out. That’s the hardest thing; to not just let it go and pretend it didn’t happen. Confront someone when you hear about it and encourage your friends and people around you to call it out as well,” said the all-rounder.