Very inappropriate comments from fans and how to address

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

The most racist situation I have ever been in is working an inner city JV game. I was one of maybe 10 white people in the gym. I was called everything but a white Man. Did my Black partner stand up for me? Did the Black Administrator, Coaches or Security Officer not hear what was being said?

I have worked many times in the rural areas that our association covers with a single Black official in our 3 man crew. Never has there been any crowd activity directed at my Black partner like what I have experienced working inner city schools.

Where is it written that racism is only 1 way?

If no one else will say it, I will say it. You were called a white man and you were offended? Really??

I get identified all the time by my race and I do not get upset, nor do I consider the reality of that identification as racist (because it has nothing to do with racism BTW). It is not the identification that is problem; it is a slur or a stereotype that is offensive.

And I bet that most people here that are white, it they choose to work in places that did not look like them, they would pass. I do not have that choice and I live in a highly racially mixed area where most of the people of color in the state lives and if I am assigned in a place where only people of a certain race that look likes me takes place, it is rather rare. A vast majority of time of my games I am just about the only Black person in the gym (players, coaches, fans and administrators).

Peace

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

I was called everything but a white Man.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If no one else will say it, I will say it. You were called a white man and you were offended? Really??

I get identified all the time by my race and I do not get upset, nor do I consider the reality of that identification as racist (because it has nothing to do with racism BTW). It is not the identification that is problem; it is a slur or a stereotype that is offensive.

And I bet that most people here that are white, it they choose to work in places that did not look like them, they would pass. I do not have that choice and I live in a highly racially mixed area where most of the people of color in the state lives and if I am assigned in a place where only people of a certain race that look likes me takes place, it is rather rare. A vast majority of time of my games I am just about the only Black person in the gym (players, coaches, fans and administrators).

Peace

Do you need the benefit of the doubt?

[JRutledge]

What was he called? I do not know too many racial slurs that identify white people that are widely considered offensive.

What, did they call him stupid, terrible, "you are not from here," or any number of things and that is boiled down to racism? At least the person in the OP used the exact term that he was called. That word (that was used) is not simply a name being called that we all have been through as officials. That identified nothing else but his races. And if he was called names, get in line; it happens to all of us on the court in some capacity.

Peace

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

What was he called? I do not know too many racial slurs that identify white people that are widely considered offensive.
Peace

OK, Rut a few quotes for you. Blind F**cking Cracker, White Boy, Redneck. The most vocal was a guy setting in the second row at mid-court. Coming up the floor as trail after making a call against the home team I was threatened with "I'll cut you white boy". Next dead ball I tell the black security officer who and what had been said. He said "what do you want me to do?" I tell him I would like you to remove him. He tells me "get over it, I'll walk you out after the game."

Your responses so far have proven my point. You state "I do not know too many racial slurs that identify white people that are widely considered offensive." The common societal assumption is that only a White person can be racist toward a minority. Myopic

I grew up without racism, I do not practice racism but I have experienced racism as player and since moving to TN as a referee.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

OK, Rut a few quotes for you. Blind F**cking Cracker, White Boy, Redneck. The most vocal was a guy setting in the second row at mid-court. Coming up the floor as trail after making a call against the home team I was threatened with "I'll cut you white boy". Next dead ball I tell the black security officer who and what had been said. He said "what do you want me to do?" I tell him I would like you to remove him. He tells me "get over it, I'll walk you out after the game."

And you left it at that?

Originally Posted by ref2coach

Your responses so far have proven my point. You state "I do not know too many racial slurs that identify white people that are widely considered offensive." The common societal assumption is that only a White person can be racist toward a minority. Myopic

I really hate to break it to you, but I really am not concerned with what I am called. I am sure there are comments made that in my direction that are racially motivated, but I tend to not worry about that. And if you want someone to get upset, I have heard things from people of my own race that I would be much more offended by in the things they say to me and the expectations they have of me. I am much more concerned about equal opportunity and giving officials that reflect the game much more than officials that look nothing like certain individuals on the court. For example, there is a big time tournament in my area where the vast majority of players, coaches are not white. But you cannot find a single game in the tournament where more than one African-American is officiating any single game and the people hosting the tournament are not white. That is evidence of true racism to me, not just name calling.

Secondly, if you did not report the actions, that is on you. Because I would not have left the situation alone with what happen at the game site. And I would have been more concerned with the threats. I have worked in places that literally had the Klan meetings in that community before the season or had what they called "Sunset laws" and I went into those communities fully aware of that racial history. I know I was called things based on my race and I functioned. No one directly said anything to me because they were either afraid to do so or they people around them took action.

Originally Posted by ref2coach

I grew up without racism, I do not practice racism but I have experienced racism as player and since moving to TN as a referee.

I grew up with it and all around it. I grew up in towns that never saw Black people unless they came to my little college town. It was not until I moved to a metropolitan area that I was even exposed on a more regular basis. And it has never gone away and never will. It is just hidden and it is subtle and the last thing I worry about is being called a name. It is about how I am treated and things that are implied by my race rather than words alone. I can only think of one situation that was called near my face a racial slur. But I have had many people tell me about comments made to them or things implied by my racial background. And that is much more of a concern than being called "Black boy."

Peace

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

What was he called? I do not know too many racial slurs that identify white people that are widely considered offensive.

A racial remark does not necessarily contain any certain word. One night I heard one black woman in the stands say to another, "That's _______. He doesn't like it when the black folks win." I was 10 feet away. Did she think I was deaf, or did she want me to hear her?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by just another ref

A racial remark does not necessarily contain any certain word. One night I heard one black woman in the stands say to another, "That's _______. He doesn't like it when the black folks win." I was 10 feet away. Did she think I was deaf, or did she want me to hear her?

Goodbye.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by just another ref

A racial remark does not necessarily contain any certain word. One night I heard one black woman in the stands say to another, "That's _______. He doesn't like it when the black folks win." I was 10 feet away. Did she think I was deaf, or did she want me to hear her?

You are right and if it did I would have to eject everyone from the gym on certain occaions.

Peace