Shaka Hislop's Incisive Take on Racism: A Lifespan of Advocacy
When Shaka Hislop filled his car with petrol at a Newcastle garage in November 1995, he was on the verge of an epiphany that would change the lives of countless people for the better. At the time, he was merely trying to escape; but his emotions - outrage and fear - were palpable as a group of youths began shouting abuse towards him. However, it soon dawned on him: he possessed the power to make a difference.
Two months later, Hislop, along with teammate John Beresford, joined forces with Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), an educational charity co-founded by his friend Ged Grebby. The two men had become unlikely allies in their quest to challenge racism and promote understanding in football, their platform providing a unique opportunity for Hislop's message of unity and inclusivity.
As we speak with the 56-year-old from Boston, USA, it is clear that this pivotal moment marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Despite completing eight weeks of radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer and undergoing a radical prostatectomy 13 months ago, Hislop remains determined in his pursuit of eradicating racism.
"I was originally an idealist," he begins, "I wanted to deliver my kids a world without racism." Yet, after years of advocating for change, he now acknowledges that dismantling this entrenched issue will be a marathon - a long and arduous journey - rather than a quick fix. "Racism has been here for hundreds of years," Hislop explains. "It might take another 100 years to dismantle but we'll get there."
One thing is certain: the landscape in areas like the north-east where racism was once prevalent has undergone significant transformation, thanks largely to Grebby's efforts and SRTRC's tireless work. When Hislop joined forces with fellow Newcastle players Faustino Asprilla and Curtis Fleming, among others, he gained an invaluable education in football and beyond.
The charity remains as essential today as it was when SRTRC first launched its initiatives. The most recent display of hate speech against Joe Willock on social media only serves to underscore the urgent need for continued advocacy. Despite the setbacks, Hislop's unwavering optimism endures: "I am incredibly proud" that his efforts have led to a reduction in racism in areas such as Newcastle.
Through conversations with former teammates and reflections on his own experiences, it is evident that Hislop has come to grasp the profound power of language and its potential to both unite or divide. Beresford, too, offers candid insights into how his initial experiences with racism, including using a racial slur without realising its impact, changed him.
By acknowledging both progress and ongoing challenges, Hislop's vision for a world devoid of racism remains steadfast. Though the fight ahead is daunting, he is resolute: "We'll get there."
When Shaka Hislop filled his car with petrol at a Newcastle garage in November 1995, he was on the verge of an epiphany that would change the lives of countless people for the better. At the time, he was merely trying to escape; but his emotions - outrage and fear - were palpable as a group of youths began shouting abuse towards him. However, it soon dawned on him: he possessed the power to make a difference.
Two months later, Hislop, along with teammate John Beresford, joined forces with Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), an educational charity co-founded by his friend Ged Grebby. The two men had become unlikely allies in their quest to challenge racism and promote understanding in football, their platform providing a unique opportunity for Hislop's message of unity and inclusivity.
As we speak with the 56-year-old from Boston, USA, it is clear that this pivotal moment marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Despite completing eight weeks of radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer and undergoing a radical prostatectomy 13 months ago, Hislop remains determined in his pursuit of eradicating racism.
"I was originally an idealist," he begins, "I wanted to deliver my kids a world without racism." Yet, after years of advocating for change, he now acknowledges that dismantling this entrenched issue will be a marathon - a long and arduous journey - rather than a quick fix. "Racism has been here for hundreds of years," Hislop explains. "It might take another 100 years to dismantle but we'll get there."
One thing is certain: the landscape in areas like the north-east where racism was once prevalent has undergone significant transformation, thanks largely to Grebby's efforts and SRTRC's tireless work. When Hislop joined forces with fellow Newcastle players Faustino Asprilla and Curtis Fleming, among others, he gained an invaluable education in football and beyond.
The charity remains as essential today as it was when SRTRC first launched its initiatives. The most recent display of hate speech against Joe Willock on social media only serves to underscore the urgent need for continued advocacy. Despite the setbacks, Hislop's unwavering optimism endures: "I am incredibly proud" that his efforts have led to a reduction in racism in areas such as Newcastle.
Through conversations with former teammates and reflections on his own experiences, it is evident that Hislop has come to grasp the profound power of language and its potential to both unite or divide. Beresford, too, offers candid insights into how his initial experiences with racism, including using a racial slur without realising its impact, changed him.
By acknowledging both progress and ongoing challenges, Hislop's vision for a world devoid of racism remains steadfast. Though the fight ahead is daunting, he is resolute: "We'll get there."
! I mean, who would've thought that something as crazy as getting into a car accident in 1995 would lead to him becoming an advocate for eradicating racism? 
It's wild how his emotions back then actually ended up being the catalyst for changing lives. He's got so much heart and determination - it's inspiring! 
I'm loving the fact that he's still going strong despite going through some tough health stuff. Radiation therapy, prostate cancer, you name it... but the man is still fighting the good fight 
. One thing I really admire about him is how humble he is too. He acknowledges that dismantling racism won't be easy, but he's still all in 
thinking how far we've come since 1995 when Shaka Hislop had to deal with abuse at a petrol station in Newcastle. That was like, the dark ages of racism, you know? 
Now, his charity work is still going strong and it's amazing to see how far SRTRC has come. I mean, we've got people like Joe Willock getting hate speech on social media and it's just... 
Anyway, Shaka Hislop's determination is still inspiring and I love that he says we'll get there in 100 years or whatever. That's the kinda positivity we need more of in this world, fam 
it's time we take a stand against racism in football and everyday life. He's been grinding for years and still going strong 
we need more people speaking out against hate speech and promoting unity and understanding. I love that Shaka is still pushing forward despite his own health struggles 
and getting so many people on board to help make a difference 
I mean, think about it... 1995 was like, super racist back then 
He's been fighting racism for ages now, and you can actually see the impact it's had on his community 
His story is so inspiring! I love how he says "we'll get there" - like, we're all in this together, fam 
Shaka's story really hits you in the feels, ya know? I mean, who wouldn't want to make a difference and leave the world a better place for their kids? His journey from getting racially abused to becoming an advocate for change is truly inspiring. 
, and his dedication to eradicating racism is truly inspiring 
. i love how he's not giving up on his mission, even after completing treatment for cancer 
, and it's amazing to see how far their work has come since then. his message of unity and inclusivity is something we all need more of in our lives 
. From filling his car with petrol to joining forces with SRTRC, Hislop's journey is a testament to the impact one person can have when they're driven by a clear purpose 
.
. His commitment to creating a world without racism is truly admirable, and I think we can all learn from his example 
. Now, 30 years later, his message is still so relevant - we're still fighting for a world where racism doesn't exist.
... it's a systemic issue that's been ingrained for centuries. So, even though we've seen progress in certain areas, there's still so much work to be done 
... from just shouting abuse at someone on the street to the more nuanced discussions we're having now about online trolls. But I guess that's progress right?
.
and I realized how much I love a good burger, but have you ever tried that new restaurant in Boston that just opened up? Apparently it has an amazing vegan option and I'm totally curious to try it out! Anyway, back to Shaka Hislop, his message is so inspiring 
. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if his optimism is a little too... cheerful 
. Like, come on Shaka, it's going to take more than just "we'll get there" to make a real difference 
. I mean, isn't it okay to acknowledge that dismantling racism is a long and arduous journey? Shouldn't we be having some sort of existential crisis about the state of humanity? 
But nope, Hislop's just staying positive and optimistic 
.
.
like shaka hislop's been fighting for it since 95 and his message of unity & inclusivity is still relevant? shouldn't we've made more progress by now? 
I think what's really inspiring is how he acknowledges that eradicating racism won't be easy and will take time 
but he's determined to keep fighting for it 
. 
The Top box contains all the hate speech & racial abuse towards individuals. 
In the bottom box, there's the root cause - deep-seated prejudices & biases that fuel this toxic behavior 
. 
- it takes time, effort, patience, & persistence 
. By listening, sharing our own stories, & supporting each other, we can slowly dismantle the boxes 
.