Shaka Hislop's Petrol Station Encounter Set Him on a Path to Tackle Racism in Football
A chance encounter that would change the lives of countless people, including his own, had a profound impact on Shaka Hislop. In 1995, while filling up his car at a petrol station in Newcastle, he was subjected to racial abuse from a group of youths. Initially frightened and outraged, Hislop's emotions shifted as he realized he wasn't just fighting for himself but also for other black players who faced similar humiliation.
This moment sparked Hislop's desire to create change, particularly within the football world. He teamed up with his teammate John Beresford, and together they approached a school in Newcastle to discuss racism. This marked the beginning of Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), an anti-racism charity co-founded by Ged Grebby that Hislop had met through a chance encounter.
Hislop credits this pivotal moment for his understanding of how language can be powerful and hurtful. He shares his personal experience, having been taught about the power of individuals in football, which led him to realize that even small actions could make a significant difference.
With the help of key supporters like Beresford, SRTRC was born, aiming to run workshops in schools, colleges, workplaces, and football stadiums across the UK. The charity's mission is to educate people about the impact of racism and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
The 56-year-old Hislop, now an honorary president of SRTRC, reflects on his journey and how it has prepared him for the challenges he still faces today. He believes that his life was saved by routine PSA screening in the US, which is not officially recommended in the UK.
As a prominent football analyst for ESPN, Hislop continues to promote unity and understanding among players and fans alike. Despite recent incidents of racist abuse, including Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock's on social media, Hislop remains optimistic that we can create change.
Hislop concedes that dismantling racism won't happen overnight but acknowledges it as a marathon rather than a sprint. He is determined to continue his fight for equality and inclusivity, inspired by his own experiences in football and personal growth.
A chance encounter that would change the lives of countless people, including his own, had a profound impact on Shaka Hislop. In 1995, while filling up his car at a petrol station in Newcastle, he was subjected to racial abuse from a group of youths. Initially frightened and outraged, Hislop's emotions shifted as he realized he wasn't just fighting for himself but also for other black players who faced similar humiliation.
This moment sparked Hislop's desire to create change, particularly within the football world. He teamed up with his teammate John Beresford, and together they approached a school in Newcastle to discuss racism. This marked the beginning of Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), an anti-racism charity co-founded by Ged Grebby that Hislop had met through a chance encounter.
Hislop credits this pivotal moment for his understanding of how language can be powerful and hurtful. He shares his personal experience, having been taught about the power of individuals in football, which led him to realize that even small actions could make a significant difference.
With the help of key supporters like Beresford, SRTRC was born, aiming to run workshops in schools, colleges, workplaces, and football stadiums across the UK. The charity's mission is to educate people about the impact of racism and create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
The 56-year-old Hislop, now an honorary president of SRTRC, reflects on his journey and how it has prepared him for the challenges he still faces today. He believes that his life was saved by routine PSA screening in the US, which is not officially recommended in the UK.
As a prominent football analyst for ESPN, Hislop continues to promote unity and understanding among players and fans alike. Despite recent incidents of racist abuse, including Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock's on social media, Hislop remains optimistic that we can create change.
Hislop concedes that dismantling racism won't happen overnight but acknowledges it as a marathon rather than a sprint. He is determined to continue his fight for equality and inclusivity, inspired by his own experiences in football and personal growth.
he was just fillin up at petrol station n some youths start screamin abuse @ him but instead of bein scared or angry, he feels this deep urge 2 take action 4 himself & 4 others like him 
he teams up with john beresford n starts a charity called show racism the red card 
it's all about educatin people about racism n creatin a more inclusive football world 
i feel like shaka hislop's story is still so relevant today lol. i remember watching him play as a kid and never thought about the racism he must've faced off the pitch. but now that i think about it, it makes total sense why he'd want to tackle it head-on. i love how he turned something negative into something positive like that 
. but can we talk about how crazy it is that joe willock got roasted on social media again? 
seriously, when are people gonna learn? 
I had a similar experience with my mate's little brother who was playing in a school team. This kid got called out for wearing a hoodie that wasn't from his brand, but it ended up being a situation where they took him to task by the teachers about the whole thing and made them see how unfair it was. He came back telling me all these things I never knew about systemic racism in schools which kinda blew my mind. That's when I started thinking more deeply about power dynamics & language too...
. Anyway, I love how he and John Beresford came together to start Show Racism the Red Card - that's some real activism 
. And let's be real, Joe Willock's social media meltdown is a total bummer 
. But Hislop's right, we can't just sit around waiting for change to happen... it's time to get out there and make some noise 
. I'm all about dismantling racism in football, it's a marathon not a sprint, let's keep pushing forward 
!