Shaka Hislop Reflects on the Power of Football to Fight Racism
The 56-year-old former footballer, who played for top-tier clubs including Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Portsmouth, has seen firsthand the impact of racism in his own career. Yet, he believes that it is not too late to make a difference.
Hislop's journey began with an encounter on a petrol station forecourt in 1995, when a group of youths started shouting abuse at him as he filled up his car. The incident sparked a realization within him about the power of individuals and the platform footballers have to effect change. Two months later, he and teammate John Beresford organized an event with Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), a leading anti-racism charity co-founded by his friend Ged Grebby.
"From 50 yards away I was a black man seen as deserving the most vile, frightening and dehumanising abuse but from 100ft I was a footballer worthy of adulation," Hislop said. "That sums up a lot of my wider experiences in life."
Hislop credits his time at Newcastle United with teaching him valuable lessons about diversity and inclusion. He recalls meeting players from different backgrounds, including Londoners, Belgians, Colombians, Greeks, Georgians, and Northerners, who all shared a common goal: to succeed on the pitch.
"I've got two degrees but I couldn't have had a better education than the one I received at Newcastle," he said. "I was with players from different backgrounds, and they taught me so much about understanding and empathy."
As SRTRC celebrates its 30th birthday this year, Hislop remains an honorary president of the charity. He continues to be an advocate for anti-racism initiatives and has spoken out against hate speech on social media.
Hislop's own life has not been immune to challenges. In recent years, he has battled prostate cancer, undergoing a radical prostatectomy 13 months ago. Despite his health issues, Hislop remains committed to the cause of eradicating racism.
"I was originally an idealist: I wanted to deliver my kids a world without racism," he said. "But I now recognise this is a marathon. Racism has been here for hundreds of years and it might take another 100 years to dismantle but we'll get there."
Hislop's words are a testament to the enduring power of football to bring people together and fight against injustice. As SRTRC continues its vital work, Hislop remains a beacon of hope and a reminder that even small actions can lead to significant change.
The 56-year-old former footballer, who played for top-tier clubs including Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Portsmouth, has seen firsthand the impact of racism in his own career. Yet, he believes that it is not too late to make a difference.
Hislop's journey began with an encounter on a petrol station forecourt in 1995, when a group of youths started shouting abuse at him as he filled up his car. The incident sparked a realization within him about the power of individuals and the platform footballers have to effect change. Two months later, he and teammate John Beresford organized an event with Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), a leading anti-racism charity co-founded by his friend Ged Grebby.
"From 50 yards away I was a black man seen as deserving the most vile, frightening and dehumanising abuse but from 100ft I was a footballer worthy of adulation," Hislop said. "That sums up a lot of my wider experiences in life."
Hislop credits his time at Newcastle United with teaching him valuable lessons about diversity and inclusion. He recalls meeting players from different backgrounds, including Londoners, Belgians, Colombians, Greeks, Georgians, and Northerners, who all shared a common goal: to succeed on the pitch.
"I've got two degrees but I couldn't have had a better education than the one I received at Newcastle," he said. "I was with players from different backgrounds, and they taught me so much about understanding and empathy."
As SRTRC celebrates its 30th birthday this year, Hislop remains an honorary president of the charity. He continues to be an advocate for anti-racism initiatives and has spoken out against hate speech on social media.
Hislop's own life has not been immune to challenges. In recent years, he has battled prostate cancer, undergoing a radical prostatectomy 13 months ago. Despite his health issues, Hislop remains committed to the cause of eradicating racism.
"I was originally an idealist: I wanted to deliver my kids a world without racism," he said. "But I now recognise this is a marathon. Racism has been here for hundreds of years and it might take another 100 years to dismantle but we'll get there."
Hislop's words are a testament to the enduring power of football to bring people together and fight against injustice. As SRTRC continues its vital work, Hislop remains a beacon of hope and a reminder that even small actions can lead to significant change.
. He talks about how football helped him see racism from different angles: 50 yards away (as a black man being abused) vs 100ft away (as a footballer with a platform). It's like he's drawing a Venn diagram in his head, right? 
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, is also worth considering. It makes sense to me that it might take time and effort to dismantle centuries of prejudice.
. As we move forward, let's keep the conversation going! 
hes got 1 story tho about racism in football thats literally mind blowin he was gettin his petrol fill up n these youths start shoutin abuse at him like 2 yrs ago & it made him realize how much power we have as ppl & footballers to make a diff 
he's still out there fightin 4 justice even tho hes battlin prostate cancer rn 
30 yrs of SRTRC & its still goin strong 
lets keep pushin 4 that world w/o racism where our kids cn grow up w/o prejudice 
. He's living proof that one person can make a difference in the fight against racism 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of something bigger than themselves? His experiences on and off the pitch are a reminder that our actions have an impact, even if it's not always easy to see 
. I'm glad he's still going strong, despite his health issues 
. It's a great reminder that we all have the power to make a positive impact, no matter how small it may seem 
But for Hislop, that moment changed everything. He took the passion of football and turned it into a movement to fight against hate speech and racism.
. I mean, who wouldn't want to learn from a bunch of talented players from different backgrounds? 
It takes guts to call out hate speech when everyone else is doing it. I'm so inspired by Hislop's commitment to this cause 
. And Shaka Hislop is living proof of that 
you know I'm all about living in harmony with ourselves & others 
like Shaka Hislop's story is heartbreaking he went through so much pain & abuse because of his skin color but what's even more inspiring is how he turned that around & became a force for change 
especially when we see people from different backgrounds coming together as one team 
that's what I'm all about spreading love & positivity wherever I go 
. He's been doing this work for years and it's clear that he's made a real impact on people's lives.
. It's easy to get discouraged, but he's showing us that even small actions can add up over time. We might not see immediate results, but if we keep pushing forward, we'll get there eventually 
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. Keep doing what you're doing, Shaka! 
they're all so extra but seriously, shaka hislop's story is kinda inspiring i guess he's been through some wild stuff but still thinks we'll get rid of racism in like 100 years maybe that's optimistic or what 
. Football can be such a powerful force for good, especially when it brings people together from different backgrounds. His story reminds me that even small actions (or in his case, big ones) can add up and make a real impact. Plus, who doesn't love an underdog who refuses to give up? 
you know who Shaka Hislop is? he's like a legend on the pitch but also an amazing person off it 
. it's so inspiring to see someone take action like that 
. and he's still going strong despite battling prostate cancer 
. that takes courage, mate 
.
its amazing how football can bring people together and create a sense of community, especially when it comes to fighting against racism 
. He's like, "Hey, we can't fix everything in 100 years, but let's start now" 
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. And honestly, having a footballer like Shaka Hislop at the forefront of anti-racism initiatives is just so important 
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. I think people like Hislop are doin' a great job of speakin' out against hate speech and racisim, but we also gotta acknowledge that it's a systemic problem that needs to be tackled from all angles 
. Hislop's experiences on and off the pitch have taught him so much about empathy and understanding, but we need more of that in our society. I'm not sayin' he's wrong for thinkin' we can eradicate racism in 100 years, but we gotta be realistic too 
. Maybe it's a marathon, like he said