Don’t be shaken. ‘You are young, gifted and black’
England's forward Marcus Rashford reacts after failing to score in the penalty shootout during the UEFA Euro 2020 final against Italy at the Wembley Stadium in London on July 11, 2021.
The caste system is a global phenomenon, where black people are subordinates in a society that fails to recognise their talents, let alone their humanity.
It is a painful truth that young black people like Rashford, Sancho and Saka have to confront daily. It doesn’t matter how successful you are.
The most heartbreaking incident that happened last weekend was the racist abuse aimed at three young black football stars; Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, who missed penalties and were consequently blamed for England’s loss in the UEFA Euro 2020 final.
The hatred that the black players experienced is not new. Successful black folks are punished every day for their accomplishments. We saw it with Meghan Markle and the criticism she received when she spoke out. We saw the double standards applied to the Obamas. Black folks globally live by one truth; you have to work twice as hard to get half as far.
