According to a particular Nigerian OAP who should know better, this picture of a basketball team is racist.

This OAP claimed the team’s formation was racist because it excluded white players and was the reverse of what black people complain about.

Without wasting time, let’s take some people back to class so they can understand what racism is actually about.

Racism is when a society has a system in place that puts a certain group of people at a disadvantage based on the colour of their skin, by denying them access to equal opportunities and services.

Therefore, black people cannot be racist because we simply do not have the power to be since we are obviously oppressed by said system. And because;

So to break it down even further:

In such a society, the group of people being discriminated against, even when competent are usually not acknowledged for their contribution in mainstream industries.

For those that don’t get it, when basketball was invented in 1891, it was only accessible to white people even after the NBA was formed in 1946. As a result, most white communities had access to basketball courts and could play the game when they wanted.

However, when these white people moved to wealthier cities, people of colour occupied their communities and started putting the basketball courts to their own use.

It’s important to bear in mind that other sports remain dominated by a particular race and basketball is the only game black people have easy access to.

Before making ridiculous statements about racism, let’s not forget how basketball has become a symbol of cultural expression and social achievements in black communities even in the face of so many social barriers.

Like Jesse Williams said, “If you have no interest in equal rights for black people, then do not make suggestions to those who do”.