Marcus Rashford - media coverage of support for school meal vouchers

[NeverFit]

Is it me or do I detect an underlying whiff of racism, dressed up as support for someone from the black community, regarding the media reporting of Marcus Rashford's call for the continuation of the school meal voucher scheme?

There seem to be an underlying air of surprise that he could be so articulate or impassioned about the issue.

He is a young, black footballer. Which one of those descriptions could they be so surprised/impressed by?

The fact perhaps that he has admirably chosen to concern himself with a hugely important cause that must be a million miles away from his current situation?
Young men are not known for being the most charitable and socially minded group generally speaking are they?
It is also easy to forget that poverty and hunger are widespread when you earn hundreds of thousands a month and live in luxury.
I don't see what racism has to do with it at all.

I think that he's bucked the stereotype of an overpaid young footballer which is the admiral bit. Normally when there's news about footballers it's about sex or speeding

I saw him early on in the outbreak delivering food.
He remembers, he's a good lad.
I bet his Mam is proud.

Footballers are generally not known for being particularly articulate, are they? Thinking of some of the stuff players like David Beckham have come out with in the past.

Agree that footballers are often less articulate than athletes from other sports and it's a tiny percentage like Lineker who get to be pundits later

How many other footballers have made this much difference on an issue that doesn’t directly affect them? Footballers aren’t paid for their levels of education or insight or compassion - these are not skills they are known for. Although some may have them, they seem rare in the footballing world . It’s no wonder we are surprised. And pleased to have our expectations of footballers confounded.

It’s more to do with the stereotype of footballers. I have it on good authority that most are not very well educated or aware of many current/social issues and he’s clearly bucked the trend. Good on him, he’s done a brilliant thing and I’d love to see more rich and famous people get behind important causes.

I dont think (hope) it has nothing to do with racism and more to do with people being surprised that a footballer is interested enough in this situation. And impressed! You dont hear Rooney/Beckham/others realising how hard it will be for many families and voicing their concerns. They'd rather support their vacuous wives in instagram spats and getting the Gov to pay furlough

sorry - double negative there - I meant I dont think it has anything to do with racism...

Yeah. It's the footballer thing.

i agree, british footballers are not known for being particularly articulate or exhibiting a social conscience.
unlike many foreign players, who seem better educated. most foreigners seem to have a better all round education, involving logic or philosophy and some awareness of the arts, history, politics. and they can usually speak english. how many of ours ever speak a foreign language, even when playing abroad.
i don't blame our lot. it's the system. and most other countries start regular school later than ours, and are not helicoptered like ours.
any correlation, i wonder? there's another project to look into...

Good, that they are impressed with him being young and a famous footballer who remembers what it is like to grow up poor and wants to make a difference.

He was a recipient of FSM, he remembers, and hasn't pulled up the ladder behind him. Good for him

When I was thinking about it earlier I literally thought "well it's come to something when we look to footballers for sage health advice and politicians for sex scandals, affair babies and utter stupidity"

Good for him, he's made a concrete change for good in the world.

The difference between my Twitter feed which is so supportive of him - a 22 year old, let’s remember - and MN is staggering.

TBH, it's so unusual for someone to remember what it was like being poor and to try and do something for people who still are, that that is what stands out for me.

I’ve only seen good things about him.

What a lovely Young man he is.

politicians for sex scandals, affair babies and utter stupidity

To be fair, I could name quite a few politicians who have been in sex scandals.

I think that fashionable young celebs often back trendy causes. FSM is so very unglamorous.... but so important. I’m glad that someone as high profile as MR has chosen this.

Katie Hopkins tweeted the wrong Rashford on Twitter, expressing her disapproval at taxpayers’ money being spent on feeding kids. The other Rashford told her to fuck off.

I think that the new younger generation of footballers are very different to the world of the likes of Gerrard, Beckham, Rooney, Terry and all the old-school WAGs and antics that we used to know. A lot more these days seem more socially conscious and willing to speak out. Footballers have really impressed me during the pandemic. So many are not afraid of speaking out about injustice and social media is more prevalent these days than 10-15 years ago with the last generation of footballers. Football clubs have also made a concerted effort to rein in the behaviour and image of the sport and charity and social mobility programmes are very much encouraged and supported.

To be fair, I could name quite a few politicians who have been in sex scandals.

True. But not normally Prime Ministers!

I’m surprised because he’s a footballer, not because he’s young or black. Footballers don’t always have the best track record with standing up for moral causes. I’m struggling to think of any footballer - old, young, white or black that has been so passionate about something that doesn’t include kicking a ball or their dick.

I don’t follow football because I find most footballers misogynist and I think football is extremely dull. So I first heard about Marcus Rushford getting involved in the free school meals debate on the radio this morning and the updates throughout the day. I was surprised that he had come out to publicly defend free school meals and the needs for a voucher over summer (see above). I went on Facebook this evening and saw a post about Marcus Rashford with a picture (which I assume is him) and though “oh yeh, I vaguely remember him from when DH is watching football”. Him being black literally didn’t even figure into the equation until you just posted about it.

Not really seeing the race aspect at all. I also wouldn’t call it surprise but it is an unusual case, because he is a footballer, because he is only 22, because he is a multi millionaire, because he is working class. It was an impressive campaign and also very honest, a nice antidote at the moment.

I think that fashionable young celebs often back trendy causes. FSM is so very unglamorous

I think this is a key point. There is nothing remotely cool or trendy about FSM and talking about the importance of breakfast clubs in providing nutrition. In fact I'd hazard a guess that its quite probably the first time breakfast clubs have ever come up in a statement released by a prominent footballer.

So I do think there is a bit of a shock that he's chosen to put out his stall on this issue - but I think its because of the footballer thing.

I think OP you may be correct. I remember something Raheem Sterling observed about how the media covered two young well-paid footballers and how they helped their families- one white, one black, and how different the coverage was.