Darren Lewis Calls for United Outrage Against Racist Language
Assistant Editor Darren Lewis has issued a powerful condemnation of what he describes as the widespread normalisation of racist language and imagery in contemporary political discourse. His comments follow the controversial posting of a video on Donald Trump's social media platform that depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
The Disturbing Social Media Incident
The video, which Lewis describes as "truly disgusting," appeared on Trump's official social media account earlier this month. While Trump's team claimed the post was made in error by a staff member, Lewis argues that this explanation fails to address the broader pattern of racially offensive language associated with the former president.
"If the US President can, apparently, repost something so nakedly racist towards two of the highest profile Black people on the planet, then anyone is fair game," Lewis writes, emphasising the dangerous precedent such actions establish.
A Pattern of Racially Offensive Remarks
Lewis points to what he describes as a consistent pattern of racially charged language from Trump that extends back to his first presidential campaign. This includes:
- The controversial "Muslim travel ban" implemented during his first term
- Describing Mexican immigrants as "rapists and drug dealers"
- Claiming undocumented immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country"
- Promising to begin "the largest domestic deportation operation in American history"
More recently, Trump attacked Bad Bunny's Spanish-language Super Bowl performance, calling it "an affront to the Greatness of America" and complaining that "nobody understands a word this guy is saying."
Media Complicity in Normalising Hate
Lewis argues that mainstream media on both sides of the Atlantic bears significant responsibility for normalising such language through what he calls "shrugging off hatred" and "downplaying racist language."
"We got here because, with a few notable exceptions, our mainstream news media has ignored or downplayed his shocking, racist language," Lewis contends.
He cites the example of Trump's December comments about Somali immigrants, where the former president insisted they should "go back to where they came from" and complained that the US keeps taking "garbage into our country." According to Lewis, this incident "barely registered on the political Richter scale in the UK."
The False Dichotomy of Sport and Politics
Lewis also challenges the common assertion that sport and politics should remain separate, particularly in relation to upcoming international sporting events.
"Believe that and you'll believe anything," he writes. "We are all products of our environments, all of which are affected by government policy. Sportsmen and women don't disappear into another dimension when they pull on a shirt and a pair of boots."
He notes that many who claim sport and politics don't mix are unaffected by the racism, sexism, police brutality, and social injustice that prominent athletes like LeBron James, Megan Rapinoe, Colin Kaepernick, and Marcus Rashford have confronted throughout their careers.
The Transatlantic Nature of the Problem
Lewis emphasises that this issue extends beyond American borders, noting that some UK media outlets supposedly appalled by Trump's racist video are simultaneously providing platforms to far-right figures who express similar sentiments using more polished language.
"We have ocean breeze racism over here compared to the deep fried racism over there," he observes, highlighting what he sees as a continuum of racist discourse across the Atlantic.
The Real-World Consequences
The assistant editor concludes with a stark warning about the practical consequences of normalising such language:
- When racism is directed at high-profile figures like the Obamas, it signals that anyone can become a target
- Attacks on individual Black people represent attacks on the entire Black community
- Dehumanising portrayals like the ape imagery inspire real-world attacks on people of colour in public spaces and online
- This problem is not confined to the United States but represents a transatlantic challenge
Lewis's commentary represents a forceful call for media organisations and the public to reject the normalisation of racist language and unite in consistent outrage against all forms of racial hatred, regardless of their source or political context.
