Shaka Hislop has reflected on three decades of anti-racism work as Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) celebrates its 30th anniversary. The former Newcastle United goalkeeper, now a football analyst, recalled a pivotal incident in 1995 that spurred him to action. While filling his car near St James' Park, a group of youths shouted racial abuse at him before recognising him as a footballer and asking for autographs. 'That sums up a lot of my wider experiences in life,' he said. 'When we see people who don't look like us on the outside we see differences but, when we get to know them, we realise there are more similarities than differences.'
That encounter led Hislop to join forces with his friend Ged Grebby, chief executive of SRTRC, to found the educational charity. The organisation runs workshops in schools, colleges, workplaces and football stadiums across the UK. Its first event, in 1996, saw Hislop and teammate John Beresford visit a school in Newcastle to discuss racism. Beresford, a key supporter, spoke candidly about his own past ignorance, including joining in with racial abuse as a boy and later being educated by a black teammate. 'John was brilliant; he really connected with the schoolkids and used his experiences to educate them in a way they could identify with,' Hislop said.
Hislop, 56, recently completed radiation therapy for prostate cancer, which he described as 'fairly aggressive'. He underwent a radical prostatectomy 13 months ago and says he is 'doing very well'. He credits routine PSA screening in the United States, where he lives, with saving his life. Despite the personal challenges, Hislop remains optimistic about the fight against racism. 'It might take another 100 years to dismantle racism but we'll get there,' he said.
