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Stefan Okunbor with his man of the match award in the Munster U20 final back in 2018. Photo by Dermot Crean
FORMER Kerry minor and Under 20 star, Stefan Okunbor, has been telling of his experience of racism on and off the pitch while growing up in Kerry.
The Na Gaeil clubman is currently with AFL side, Geelong Cats, where he is recovering from a serious achilles injury sustained back in January.
In the light of the recent killing of George Floyd in the USA and the resultant discussion around racism in general, the 21 year old Tralee man has written for Irish sports news website, The 42, about the incidents of racism he has experienced over the years.
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When he was 17, he recounted an incident where he was called a ‘black bastard’ by a co-worker who later claimed it was just ‘friendly banter’.
Two other incidents on the football pitch occurred in his final year of playing before going to Australia. In one incident on the field he had monkey noises shouted in his direction by an opposition player. In the other incident he was again called a ‘black bastard’ by an opposition player.
Stefan said racist incidents seldom happened to him whilst growing up in Ireland, but when they did they stuck. He also points out that he loves Ireland. “It is home. I moved to Ireland when I was three years of age and I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to grow up as a proud black Irish man”.
If you want to read Stefan’s full story and how he felt about these racism incidents, click here to go to story on The 42 website.
Stefan Okunbor, it’s the same old story, if you are different to a particular group and someone wants to take a swipe at you, they will reference anything they can in hope to hurt you. If you are black, white, freckled, red haired or one armed, it is often just a case of simple nasty!
I am half Irish and like me, one day you too also have the pleasure of being called a paddy and teased with potatoes, but please do not see it as racism, just see it for what it is – just someone insulting you in any obvious way that comes into their simple little mind. Like me, you will never feel so proud to be identified as Irish!
Racism is in the world and at times by all races to all other races, just look at the following news reports from YouTube. Seriously, the world is a zoo!
COVID-19: Africans ‘evicted’ from homes in China:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zji8pkCE3Y
‘Reverse apartheid’: South Africa’s white slums:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C2R12xQDDE
Feared rise in anti-Chinese attacks in Africa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg7nf0uW86o
Africans are ‘Peddlers, Cannibals, Ha**mi’: India’s Racism Exposed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiN0SZPXlAk
The citizens of the USA should be wanting their police reformed for the sake of everyone as their police culture seems to be rotten to the core and just out of control.
Speaking as an average so called Irish man, when I visited the United States of America, any interactions I had with their police officers regardless of their skin colour, I listen to their instructions very carefully, I move clearly and slowly, saying a little prayer in my mind that I’m not shot or hurt – that’s a fact because deep down, I know my life literally depends on it.
Sadly, the George Floyd seems to be just another victim of an out of control police state and now he has become a cause for the opportunists to virtue signal or politically exploit because of the colour of his skin.
Just look at some other news stories of more victims of that so called police service?
Former Minneapolis police officer found guilty of murdering unarmed woman:
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/former-minneapolis-police-officer-found-guilty-of-murdering-unarmed-woman/
cop shoots old woman:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-officer-shot-woman-police-dog-attack-cyclist/
2 cops shoot autistic boy:
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/graphic-video-released-of-police-shooting-of-autistic-boy/
Mistaken apartment shooting:
https://apnews.com/BothamJean
Fort Worth police officer who fatally shot Atatiana Jefferson indicted on murder charge:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fort-worth-police-officer-who-fatally-shot-atatiana-jefferson-indicted-n1105916
Race and racism is a strange creature in our modern culture?
Identifying Barack Obama as the first black president of the USA as he is half black/ half white. In fact Barack Obama is mixed raced and that is nothing new for presidents of the USA. After all, Barack Obama’s father was black and his mother White!
I think it says a lot about a culture who identifies an equally half white and half black person as black?
Like Muhammad Ali, Barack Obama also had Irish roots!
Stefan Okunbor, for what it’s worth you may be mixed race but you are Irish enough for me and most of everyone else for that matter, I am willing to bet for what it’s worth.
Besides, I do not think if you went to Africa you would blend in. Some of the local people there may not view you as black but as white!
I say this because I recall an interesting news story from a couple of years back, there was some African Americans who retired to Liberia a couple of years ago and they were shocked to discover the locals viewed them White people! LOL.
Stefan, one thing I have leaned from my time on this earth so far, is that nothing Black or White (not even people), just shades of Grey 😉
White family embraces celebrated black ancestor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPr5DvNHxK4
Don Lemon travels in search of his roots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7ihpc9rMps
Larry Elder and Brendan O’Neill tells it as it is.
Are Black People ‘Literally Hunted’ Every Time They Leave Their Homes? | Larry Elder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPkkjvANE10
‘Pathological hypocrisy’ at the heart of UK race-based protests:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoaKAqmiwEo
The liberal left band wagon of weaponised victimisation and toxic identity politics.