It’s Not Banter, It’s Racism : What Cricket’s Dirty Secret Reveals About Our Society

It’s Not Banter, It’s Racism : What Cricket’s Dirty Secret Reveals About Our Society

(Author) Azeem Rafiq
Format: Hardcover
22.00 Price: £20.00 (9% off)
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This is the story of how one cricketer in Yorkshire started a nationwide conversation, putting a spotlight on a society riddled with bias. Green grass, blue skies, white flannels and the gentle thwack of leather on willow: the quintessential image of Englishness that heralds the start of the cricket season. A so-called gentleman's game developed with the principle of fair play at its heart. All well and true - unless you're a person of colour living in Britain today. Azeem Rafiq, the former Yorkshire cricketer and England youth captain, learnt this the hard way. When, on 16 November 2021, Azeem stood up and courageously spoke out about his experiences of racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club he was coolly dismissed, told that it was "friendly banter" and that he was a troublemaker. The case blew up, and millions of people voiced their support for Azeem. It's Not Banter, It's Racism will provide a bracing look at the moments that led up to and defined the watershed meeting where Azeem shared his truth. As well as interviewing key figures involved in the case, Azeem, with The Cricketer's George Dobell, will illustrate how the continual denial of racism is sending us backwards as a society, and how pervasive polarisation has become. It is with great sensitivity and determination that Azeem will also unpack his own biases, while also building forgiveness and understanding with the communities he has impacted. Giving voice to the voiceless, Azeem's book stands for accountability and honesty in a world that would prefer to cancel and silence.

Information
Publisher:
Trapeze
Format:
Hardcover
Number of pages:
None
ISBN:
9781398712409
Publish year:
2024
Publish date:
June 13, 2024

Azeem Rafiq

Azeem Rafiq is a British-Pakistani author known for his powerful memoir, "Cut Short: The Harrowing True Story of a Former Yorkshire Cricketer." His straightforward and poignant writing style sheds light on the systemic racism he faced in cricket, sparking conversations and reforms within the sport and beyond.

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