Racist Kiwis tell Windies "It's all white here"

[Muhammad]

West Indies angered at slogan's undertones

Cricinfo staff

November 21, 2008

Otago Cricket's slogan to promote Test cricket, "It's all white here!", has been strongly condemned by the West Indies Players' Association ahead of the Dunedin Test between New Zealand and West Indies next month.

The idea mirrors another promotion a few years ago in which New Zealand fans were encouraged to "black out" in support of their team, colloquially known as the Black Caps. However, the concept has angered people in New Zealand and abroad, forcing an apology from Otago Cricket's chief executive.

"We just wanted a catchy phrase to help sell the game," said Ross Dykes yesterday. "It was all based around the association of the colour with cricket."

The former commentator, Billy Ibadulla, said the idea was ill-concevied. "The connection between the phrase and white clothing is stupid at best, and grievous at worst."

Despite the apologies, WIPA has vehemently condemned the phrase.

"This slogan which, in our view, may be reasonably perceived to be loaded with racial innuendoes has quite naturally raised eyebrows in many places, including New Zealand itself," said WIPA in a statement. "It comes at a time when the spectre of racial intolerance is insidiously and, at times, openly appearing in major sporting events.

"We at WIPA and its members wish to disassociate ourselves from any perceived contributing factor. Whatever may be the reasons advanced by the bodies in New Zealand for this promotional approach, innocently as some may claim, it appears to be totally insensitive and myopic as to the ramifications.

"We request that the West Indies Cricket Board take up this issue as a matter of urgency with New Zealand Cricket, conveying our deep concern about participating in an event with such a 'perceived' racial slogan."

Not all observers were so strongly against the idea, however. New Zealand's former batsman, Glenn Turner, Glenn Turner said people could be "too politically correct".

"It's about the tone. I don't think anyone had negative intention here," Turner said. "But whether it's a bit loose or sloppy is open to comment."

© Cricinfo

[Ghoshtbuster]

New Zealanders are weirdos. I wouldnt take anything they say to heart.

[Awesome Anjum]

One would think that West Indian cricket faced greater problems.

[OZGOD]

I wouldn't call the Kiwis racist, in fact they have a more multicultural society than most, with Pacific Islanders and Maori a large part of their population. They are probably one of the few Western countries that embrace their multicultural heritage. Their rugby team (the All Blacks) do a haka before each game, which is basically a Maori war dance.

I actually thought it was a play on "All Blacks" which is what the rugby team is called. But whoever did it displayed poor judgment, given that the visiting team is the WI.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by OZGOD I actually thought it was a play on "All Blacks" which is what the rugby team is called. But whoever did it displayed poor judgment, given that the visiting team is the WI.

Stupid - not racist (although Muhammed is just winding us up with the title

'All Blacks' has never been associated with cricket - so I think we can eliminate that from the explanation.

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by Oxy Stupid - not racist (although Muhammed is just winding us up with the title 'All Blacks' has never been associated with cricket - so I think we can eliminate that from the explanation.

I thought it was more a play on words for the Kiwis' benefit Oxy - because Carisbrook Park in Dunedin has been a fortress for the All Blacks, maybe they decided to flip it and say "all white" because cricket uniforms are white. But definitely it wasn't the smartest thing to do. But we all know saying "stupid Kiwi" is a tautology!

[nikred]

Originally Posted by OZGOD I thought it was more a play on words for the Kiwis' benefit Oxy - because Carisbrook Park in Dunedin has been a fortress for the All Blacks, maybe they decided to flip it and say "all white" because cricket uniforms are white. But definitely it wasn't the smartest thing to do. But we all know saying "stupid Kiwi" is a tautology!

I don't think it was intentional. But intentional or not its stupid either ways.

[kingusama92]

I think they should make the slogan "It's all white here, black will come later"

[Big Harvey]

Not a very good slogan, and even less well thought out, but I doubt any offence was intended.

If Dunedin is indeed being described as "all white" ethnically, it must be the only town in New Zealand that is. In fact, Dunedin's mayor (who defended the slogan) is apparently Chinese, which doesn't really suggest that the place is some kind of bastion of white supremacism, does it?

I suppose if people are genuinely offended, then it should be dropped, but it's almost certainly just a misunderstanding.

[Robert]

But will the Kiwis make them grovel?

[isr]

I reckon the slogan just refers to sheep anyway (white wool). "There's nothing but sheep here."

[Indiafan]

The logical reason would be that they are advertising test cricket over ODIs and 20/20s so the "all white" part refers to the player's white Test uniforms

[bdchamp20]

Originally Posted by Indiafan The logical reason would be that they are advertising test cricket over ODIs and 20/20s so the "all white" part refers to the player's white Test uniforms

Well that's pretty obvious...

[Indiafan]

Originally Posted by bdchamp20 Well that's pretty obvious...

So how come the Kiwis are called racist

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Indiafan So how come the Kiwis are called racist

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...03&postcount=5

[Bhajis_acid_tongue]

Originally Posted by OZGOD I wouldn't call the Kiwis racist, in fact they have a more multicultural society than most, with Pacific Islanders and Maori a large part of their population. They are probably one of the few Western countries that embrace their multicultural heritage. Their rugby team (the All Blacks) do a haka before each game, which is basically a Maori war dance. I actually thought it was a play on "All Blacks" which is what the rugby team is called. But whoever did it displayed poor judgment, given that the visiting team is the WI.

indeed... the kiwi are too polite to hurt a kangaroo (pun intended).

[rahulrulezz]

its funny as I have NewZealand official Rugby/Cricket shirt with "All BLACKS" written in CAPS and BOLD... so I wore that shirt to the gym last week and some of reactions were just hillarious... a black guy actually told me "Nice Shirt" ..haha, i was laughing my ass off... on topic, i think it wasnt intentional .. lil bit stupid and naive but not intentional forsure

[OZGOD]

Originally Posted by rahulrulezz its funny as I have NewZealand official Rugby/Cricket shirt with "All BLACKS" written in CAPS and BOLD... so I wore that shirt to the gym last week and some of reactions were just hillarious... a black guy actually told me "Nice Shirt" ..haha, i was laughing my ass off... on topic, i think it wasnt intentional .. lil bit stupid and naive but not intentional forsure

And what are you doing wearing an All Blacks shirt? Burn it! It belongs to the enemy!

Actually, there are a lot of similarities between NZ rugby fans and Indian cricket fans - both totally obsessed with their team to the point of fanaticism. Both become incandescently euphoric at victories and morosely depressed at losses. The NZ economy actually suffers after each rugby World Cup loss - stock market (with all 5 stocks in it) drops, shops are closed, nobody is buying anything.

[Bhajis_acid_tongue]

Originally Posted by OZGOD And what are you doing wearing an All Blacks shirt? Burn it! It belongs to the enemy!

enemy or not, its is probably the finest uniform around the globe at the moment.

[buddhika_s]

I don't think this is so much of a deal.

[Amir]

Just words at teh end of the day. Making a mountain out of a molehill for nothing.

[Foozee]

Kiwis are not racist, theyre just stupid and not as talented

[tracker22]

Its not racial it is simply stupid and stupidity do comes in all colors forms and shapes....

[Poison]

I think stupid pretty much sums up the worldwide feelings for the Kiwis. I mean, their PM is a girl. I think the idea was the one OZGOD put forward...even though the cricket slogan has nothing to do with Rugby, New Zealanders live and breathe rugby. Pity its been seen as racist.

[rahulrulezz]

Originally Posted by OZGOD And what are you doing wearing an All Blacks shirt? Burn it! It belongs to the enemy! Actually, there are a lot of similarities between NZ rugby fans and Indian cricket fans - both totally obsessed with their team to the point of fanaticism. Both become incandescently euphoric at victories and morosely depressed at losses. The NZ economy actually suffers after each rugby World Cup loss - stock market (with all 5 stocks in it) drops, shops are closed, nobody is buying anything.

lmao..u serious .hahha ..it kinda sucks in a way that their young generation is moving away from Cricket to Rugby.... i always think NZealand as "Canada-like" country where everyone is nice and polite to each other... regarding the shirt, my cousins gifted me that shirt from NZealand and shirt is Beauty so ya not gonna burn it..but i will make sure i will wear that in one of the Austrlian matches just to annoy you ..

[the_best]

There is nothing racist. A good marketing ploy but should have the warning not suitable for people with thin or no skin