Black people face more racism in UK than South Asians: Panesar
New Delhi, July 14
The South Asian diaspora in the UK often becomes a victim of “casual racism” but it can’t be compared to what the black community has to endure in everyday life, said former England cricketer Monty Panesar.
“If someone is driving a fancy car here with tinted windows and he happens to be black, he is six times more likely to be stopped by the police than others. So, the fear of the cops is in the everyday life of the black community here,” Panesar said. “That is what my black friends tell me. They go to a supermarket store, the general mindset is that he could be here for shoplifting.”
The 38-year-old Panesar’s parents migrated to England from India in the 1970s.
Sikh message of love
“The South Asian community also faces casual racism but nothing like what the black community faces on a daily basis. Having said that, the Sikh community has been doing social work for decades and has been spreading the message of love and that people have appreciated and they love us back,” he said. — PTI
Didn’t face discrimination
Monty Panesar said personally, he was never racially discriminated against during his time with the national team. “I did not face it, to be honest. I was most worried about doing my job properly so that that I don’t get an earful from the captain,” he said on a lighter note. “If you are in a team, naturally you would have more things in common with the members of your community (be it Hindu, Muslim or Christian). But you must make the effort of mingling with all your teammates. It is very important in a team environment,” Panesar pointed out.
