Sarfraz Ahmed Racist Comments Discussion

[Stefan9]

No room for racism. Should be hit with a heavy ban.

 

[sledger]

It was lame. As a sledge.

The use of "kaale" here is difficult to get the right idea about. It could be more of a racial thing. Many people in the subcontinent who use "kaale" like that are also the ones who would substitute "African" without batting an eyelid (even when referring to people from their area itself).

On the other hand, it could be more about skin colour. That, too, happens. But it is almost always used in a derogatory sense, from mild to massive. The level of malice is difficult to establish.

Yeah, if only he had used a non-lame or cool racially aggravated remark I guess.

 

[weldone]

Fully agree with the subcontinental posters posting here. It's a slang but not malicious here at all. It's just like 'mote' (the fat guy), 'shorty' (the short guy) etc which are used harmlessly.

Having said that, most of the middle-class people in the SC are not sensitised enough to the idea of racism. Regardless of how harmless the intention was I can't deny someone can interpret it from a racist angle. So, I won't mind if he's banned for a couple of matches.

 

[Daemon]

Fully agree with the subcontinental posters posting here. It's a slang but not malicious here at all. It's just like 'mote' (the fat guy), 'shorty' (the short guy) etc which are used harmlessly.

Having said that, most of the middle-class people in the SC are not sensitised enough to the idea of racism. Regardless of how harmless the intention was I can't deny someone can interpret it from a racist angle. So, I won't mind if he's banned for a couple of matches.

I think dark skinned people suffer a fair bit of discrimination in India and the casual use of this word doesn't help.

Sarfraz is also not your typical subcontinental middle-class person. He's played international cricket all over the world, including a stint in England, and should know better. Unacceptable regardless of intention imo.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Yeah definitely not harmless but it sounds worse in a literal translation than it actually is. I think weldone meant that it can be used harmlessly in certain context.

 

[weldone]

I wouldn't say harmlessly though. I think dark skinned people suffer a fair bit of discrimination in India and the use of this word so casually doesn't help.

Harmless in the sense 'mote' and 'shorty' are. Fat or short people also suffer in India (and everywhere). But generally when such slangs are used colloquially they are not specifically targeting the parents, ancestors etc.

 

[vcs]

There was always a 'Mote' or a 'Golu' in every group in school. You don't even need to be fat, just fatter than the rest. Luckily I was never on the wrong end of that one.

 

[OverratedSanity]

There was always a 'Mote' or a 'Golu' in every group in school. You don't even need to be fat, just fatter than the rest. Luckily I was never on the wrong end of that one.

As I South Indian, I was the "kaale" ftr.

 

[vcs]

I think dark skinned people suffer a fair bit of discrimination in India and the casual use of this word doesn't help.

Sarfraz is also not your typical subcontinental middle-class person. He's played international cricket all over the world, including a stint in England, and should know better. Unacceptable regardless of intention imo.

Yup, if it's just kids teasing each other - fine. (I mean, not ideal, but you'd hope they'd grow out of it)

International captain using racially sensitive term - not fine, regardless of intent.

 

[vcs]

As I South Indian, I was the "kaale" ftr.

I used to be "Dosa" or "Coconut" LOL.

 

[vcs]

Yup, if it's just kids teasing each other - fine. (I mean, not ideal, but you'd hope they'd grow out of it)

International captain using racially sensitive term - not fine, regardless of intent.

And that too in South Africa of all places, to describe a non-white cricketer.

 

[weldone]

I used to be "Dosa" or "Coconut" LOL.

 

[harsh.ag]

Yeah, if only he had used a non-lame or cool racially aggravated remark I guess.

Not taking your bait, sledgy.

 

[sledger]

Not taking your bait, sledgy.

Haha, of course you aren't. Refusing to be drawn on crap posts you've made is standard harsh practice.

 

[harsh.ag]

Haha, of course you aren't. Refusing to be drawn on crap posts you've made is standard harsh practice.

Indeed. Proud history.

 

[weldone]

Did Ramiz Raja really say it's a long sentence and difficult to translate? Haha.

 

[ankitj]

The sentence is basically just noise with the word 'kaale' the only relevant thing.

It's often used to describe those of a darker complexion in India and Pakistan, typically in a derogatory but not very malicious manner (if that makes any sense). Definitely unacceptable though and deserves punishment.

Yeah, in an international setting or for someone even mildly aware of history of Colonialism/Apartheid it's unacceptable to use that word. At the same time, in sub-continent it's not as much of a big deal to refer to someone as gora (fair skinned) or kaala (dark skinned) without meaning malice. I wouldn't myself do it of course (though I may well have used such a word in my teens) nor will I advise anyone to do it.

 

[andmark]

Something I'd like to know is what black people who've experienced the term think of it. Like do they think of it in a slightly casual way or something more serious?

 

[Burgey]

Something I'd like to know is what black people who've experienced the term think of it. Like do they think of it in a slightly casual way or something more serious?

Well, yes indeed.

 

[ankitj]

Something I'd like to know is what black people who've experienced the term think of it. Like do they think of it in a slightly casual way or something more serious?

I do know that blacks from outside subcontinent regard "kaala" or any variant of it as racial slur. And correctly so. It's one thing for one subcontinent person to refer to another subcontinent person as "kaala" but to do that to a black not from subcontinent must definitely be deemed derogatory and racist.