Empathy, Education, and Bridging the Gap by Maxi Rodriguez
Empathy, Education, and Bridging the Gap by Maxi Rodriguez
Empathy, Education, and Bridging the Gap by Maxi Rodriguez
There are stories throughout life, in which each individual’s history seems so foreign and difficult to grasp, that empathy and compassion are often interred beneath an inquisitive, skeptical bent.
Questions are asked, and stories subjected to a fine comb with verification the preoccupying force; eyebrows are raised and muted lips are made the story of the day rather than any sense of communal understanding. Minutia is placed above historic trends, and insignificant discrepancies result in untold consequences.
In few places has this been truer in the last year than the United States. From the range of protests that blistered across the nation, the reality is clear: there’s an obvious disconnect between the lived experiences of African Americans in the United States and the narrative accepted by those outside of minority communities.
This story of systemic aversion to the experiences of minorities is a reality across the entire globe, and one becoming increasingly visible in the administration of football worldwide.
With minorities targeted on the pitch on a semi-regular basis, so too is there a regular pattern as to how these episodes are dealt with: fans or players use derogatory terms toward a minority, prompting minorities to report the incident. Soon, cases are investigated and a judgement (typically inconsequential) pronounced, before the news cycle moves on to transfer gossip or the latest managerial drama.
Rather than being viewed in the context of cultural ills, these incidents are treated as exceptions and quickly pushed through the news cycle. At no point is an effort made to take a deeper look at the root causes of the societal rift, nor to illustrate the day-to-day realities of living as second-class citizens. The heart-wrenching pain and frustration brought upon by these moments is a theme left in a wasteland. Is it because players fear reprisal? Are there not enough voices in the media who have shared experiences with the victims? Either way, the experiences of these victims on the pitch, and the way these incidents shed light on their day-to-day lives, are ignored.
Most significantly, any opportunity to use these incidents to educate populations and bridge gaps is left untapped. From Jamie Vardy to Dave Whelan, and every other party in between, incidents of racism or sexism are viewed as exceptions, with the relationship between sport and societal ills overlooked. Sure, we all keep track of these incidents and sharpen our pitchforks, but once a few days pass, we move ahead. That brief window to use sport to place a light on real-life problems slams shut.
Which is why those voices willing to give light to their experiences and views are so important. From Miriti Murungi’s piece detailing the lack of political action within the US soccer community, to Omar Victor Diop’s recent art project on identity featured above, discovery and the difficulty of definition in a world filled with post-colonial migration, minority perspectives are invaluable to the growth of the sport and the growth of the sport’s community.
The way forward is through compassion and empathy. This is where we start.
