14:45, 14 October 2024
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
“In the early days, we used football as the conduit to the message. We're an educational charity, we work in the education space, in schools, primarily with young people. But as a former footballer, I see so much through the lens of a footballer.” Says Neil Shaka Hislop CM, British football commentator, former goalkeeper, and honorary President of Show Racism the Red Card.
“It was easy for us to connect with kids in telling our stories, and by our 20th year we've gone much further than men’s football and we have current and former athletes from every single sport. All telling a very similar story, albeit from the perspective of their own sports and their own experiences in those sports.”
Show Racism the Red Card was founded in 1996 after an incident Shaka faced where a group shouted racist abuse at him in the mid-1990s, just before one member of the group recognised him as a Newcastle United football player and came to ask for an autograph.
Shaka states that while change can be slow, seeing the progress they have made since the charity’s inception, is something the charity is “proud” of and how it fuels them to push forward.
Over the last decade, Show Racism the Red Card has marked the 18th October as their annual day of action, Wear Red Day reaches around the same message of empathy and understanding for an inclusive society. Throughout its nearly 30-year history, Show Racism the Red has evolved into a prominent national charity, with numerous corporations and landmarks displaying red in support on the evening of October 18th. These include the London Eye, Warwick Castle, and London Heathrow Airport.
The number of support has grown for the charity as in 2023, over 650,000 people signed up to wear red to work, this is up from 7,000 in 2014.
“We are closing in at 1.5 million people who've been through one of our educational programs, which we proudly speak of,” Shaka tells Smiley News, “Given the impacts and the learnings that young people from 28 years ago, who are now all grown up and probably have families of their own, and how those lessons continues to impact who they are, as citizens, as parents, and how it continues to change each generation coming up.
“The understanding, the empathy, the resilience around who we are crafting in an equal society, and we continue to do the same.”
Show Racism the Red Card operates across the UK in each of the UK’s nations with the occasional international campaign.
For Wear Red Day, Show Racism the Red Card encourages participants to wear a red item of clothing (or a complete outfit) as a symbol of solidarity with the charity's mission, and share it online with the hashtag #WRD24.
Additionally, they can make a donation through text, online, or in cash for centralised collections - check here for more information.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Kick it Out. This charity is committed to fighting all forms of discrimination within sport and championing diversity and equality. Find out more.
Football Beyond Borders. This organisation is the charity of the Premier League, The FA and Government, aiming to deliver outstanding grassroots sports facilities. Learn more here.
The Huracan Foundation. This charity in the UK that leverages football as a means to facilitate learning, providing young individuals with the support they need to transform their lives. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities.
