While Sam Kerr, who needs no introduction, is a person of colour, she’s not Aboriginal.
But by god have we claimed her, especially now.
Kerr has made headlines all over the world in the last few days, but not, as usual, because of her prowess and stardom on the soccer field (sorry, football field) but because she is alleged to have called a police officer in Twickenham, south-west London, a ‘stupid white bastard’ last year.
She has been charged with ‘racially aggravated harassment’ which in my opinion is outdated, much like the UK’s legislations and keep in mind that our country that is ours and not theirs has adopted the very same legislations and style of policing as the UK’s.
When being trained to become a cop (as I did), recruits are told that they will be called all sorts of names, and not to take offence to this. In fact they are told to harden up and grow a set. Obviously the cop in question missed this lesson at the academy.
But the real question is can white people be racially vilified or be subjected to what we as Blackfullas know to be racism?
In an article by , it’s argued that the ‘reverse racism’ card is often pulled by white people when people of colour call out racism and discrimination, or create spaces for themselves.
While it also says that assumptions and stereotypes about white people do exist, this is considered racial prejudice, not racism.
Racial prejudice is a set of discriminatory or derogatory attitudes based on assumptions derived from perceptions about race and/or skin colour.
So racial prejudice can indeed be directed at white people, but is not considered racism because of the systemic relationship to power.
Policing is a white, male dominated environment and this cop used his white power and his white privilege as a police officer to find something to charge Kerr with.
Just this week , and has only been charged with aggravated assault.
When the charges should have been stacked up on him, further insult: he was granted bail.
He should had been charged with deprivation of liberty and torture and the question arises, had these children been white, would he have cabled tied them or just yelled out for them to leave?
And now let’s reverse the scenario: had an Aboriginal man cabled tied three white children, would the outcome be the same?
But where is the same outrage for these Aboriginal children and their families? Why is this not making equivalent headlines all over the world?
It’s another example of the power of the law meaning different things for different people.
Back to Kerr’s incident: let’s be honest, when she said what she said, she probably wasn’t lying and could have used more colourful profanities.
But in all seriousness, this charge is frivolous, bordering on laughable, and will more than likely be dropped.
The fact that it has gone to trial with a date set for next year is beyond my comprehension.
Is it possible that Kerr, with her massive profile, was already known to the officer, and that that played into the incident?
Whatever the case, she could lose lucrative sponsorships even if it doesn’t make it to court, damaging her livelihood and damaging her reputation.
Whatever the outcome, Sam Kerr, us mob love you and we stand with you. Stay deadly!
