Recently retired test batsman Ross Taylor says in an autobiography released Thursday that he experienced racism during his 16-year career in New Zealand cricket. (More Cricket News)
Ross Taylor describes racist locker room 'banter' and casually racist comments from some New Zealand team officials.
Recently retired test batsman Ross Taylor says in an autobiography released Thursday that he experienced racism during his 16-year career in New Zealand cricket. (More Cricket News)
Taylor, who is of Samoan heritage, describes racist locker room "banter" and casually racist comments from some New Zealand team officials.
바카라Cricket in New Zealand is a pretty white sport,바카라 Taylor writes in his book, entitled 바카라Black & White."
바카라For much of my career I've been an anomaly, a brown face in a vanilla line-up. That has its challenges, many of which aren't readily apparent to your teammates or the cricketing public.바카라
The 38-year-old Taylor said many people assumed he was of Maori or Indian heritage because Pacific Island representation in New Zealand cricket is so rare. He said locker room banter sometimes was racist and hurtful but he was concerned that raising the issue might make the situation worse.
바카라In many ways dressing-room banter is the barometer,바카라 Taylor wrote.
바카라A teammate used to tell me you're half a good guy Ross but which half is good? You don't know what I'm referring to.' I was pretty sure I did."
He said other players also had to put up with comments that dwelt on their ethnicity.
바카라In all probability a (white New Zealander) listening to those sorts of comments would think Oh, that's okay, it's just a bit of banter,'바카라 Taylor said.
"But he's hearing it as white person and it's not directed at people like him. So there's no pushback; no one corrects them.
바카라Then the onus falls on the targets. You wonder if you should pull them up but worry that you'll create a bigger problem or be accused of playing the race card by inflating harmless banter into racism. It's easier to develop a thick skin and let it slide, but is that the right thing to do?바카라
Taylor said a former manager and coach of the New Zealand team made comments that were unintentionally racist.
The manager told Taylor's wife, Victoria, that in his experience players of Maori and Pacific Island heritage have problems managing money and offered his assistance.
Taylor said former coach Mike Hesson, who guided the New Zealand men's team for six years from 2012, once told him my cleaner's Samoan. She's a lovely lady, hard-working, very trustworthy.'
바카라All I could say was oh, cool,' Taylor wrote.
바카라I have no doubt that (the officials) and the guys who engaged in the banter' would be dismayed to learn that their remarks landed with a thud.
바카라Let me be clear: I don't think for one minute that they were coming from a racist perspective. I think they were insensitive and lacked the imagination and empathy to put themselves in the other person's shoes.
바카라What to them is a bit of harmless banter is actually confronting for the targets because it tells them they're seen as being different. Instead of the message being You're one of us, mate,' it is, in effect, You're one of them.'바카라
A New Zealand Cricket spokesperson told the New Zealand Herald newspaper that the national body 바카라deplores racism, is a staunch supporter of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission's Give Nothing to Racism campaign and is deeply disappointed Ross has been exposed to this type of behavior.바카라