History suggests that the disillusioned and the disaffected do not readily take to the streets nor man the barricades to defend a system that failed to defend them.
David OlusogaRead
For black and Asian people of my generation, the England team and the cross of St George were once ingredients in a toxic broth. For decades, a minority of England fans brought the nation and the national team into disrepute, bringing violence both to foreign streets and immigrant communities at home.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote addresses the historical tension and violence experienced by black and Asian individuals in England, particularly in relation to national identity and football culture.
David Olusoga reflects on the complicated relationship that black and Asian individuals of his generation have had with the England football team and its symbolism. He highlights how the cross of St George and the national team were once associated with a troubling legacy of violence and racism, stemming from a minority of fans whose actions discredited both the team and the nation. This illustrates a broader commentary on national identity and the impact of racial tensions in sports.
Themes
Racial IdentityViolenceNationalityFootballDisrepute
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on multiculturalism and sports, this quote can highlight past challenges faced by diverse communities.
More from David Olusoga
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Public buildings, built from the rates and taxes paid by past generations, are being auctioned off by impoverished councils who need the money to pay the redundancies of workers they can no longer afford to employ. Many of these grand Victorian buildings will be turned into flats that most people will never be able to afford.
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Black history is a series of missing chapters from British history. I'm trying to put those bits back in.
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We nonchalantly expect that next year's smartphone will be faster and better than this year's, yet we struggle to imagine that society and our lives could progress at anything like the pace at which technology advances and we meekly accept it when things go backwards.
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Our national history cannot be national if, in the near future, one in three young adults feels their stories remain untold, if this country's long global history of empire and interconnections is marginalised and if the historical reality of race is rendered almost invisible.
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