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?

I’m so glad that he bothered to try and help people in need of FSM. His words did make a difference & the Government U-Turn will help people in poverty through the next few months. Good lad. His Mum deserves credit for raising him well.

I'm impressed bc he's only 22 and he's got a cushy set up (high income). He could keep his head down & avoid controversy & not advertise his own private background, just do what his coaches tell him & have an easy life, but he took this on, instead. Shows Character.

I think it's more ageism, as he's only 22.
I'm so glad he spoke out on this matter though- it will make a huge difference to so many lives.

To be fair it’s been known for a while that he has raised money for foodbanks and acknowledged the need to support even before covid. Before the last week when all this re school meals has been in the press I had read that he had helped raise a huge amount of money for foodbanks and shows them support. Think your post is very misplaced. He wants to help his local community that he & remembers it was hard for him & his family growing up, think it’s brill that he spoke out about that. He seems genuine and lacks the swagger of some players and seems less interested in doing it for himself also than others that may like the coverage.

I think it’s more of a class thing. Middle class mumsnetty types who think football is crass and ‘chavvy’ are surprised he can string a sentence together more like.

To be fair footballers aren't renowned for a) their intelligence or b) caring about anyone other than themselves. He's clearly one of the exceptions. His Mum must be so proud of him, I know I would be.

A very brief Google or passing interest would tell you that it isn't unusual for (English and non-english) players to have interests outside of playing and have been recognised for their work. Jermaine Defoe, Jordan Henderson, wild zaha, Juan mata (common goal), Craig Bellamy, David Beckham (multiple charities), Hector bellerin (grenfell), Mario ballotelli driving around Manchester helping homeless people, the Wayne Rooney foundation work with hospitals and hospices... And many more. It's almost as if they arent all the same stereotypical person presented in the papers and brought up when the government wants to distract from their own failings.

I think some here need to broaden their minds about football and perhaps indulge in a bit less lazy stereotyping...

www.goal.com/en/lists/footballers-with-degrees-kompany-mata-10-players-who-went-to/196q7i1qbyhjs1nl24xafcdc80

talksport.com/football/685890/footballers-good-deeds-during-coronavirus-pandemic-marcus-rashford-jose-mourinho-neymar/

www.goal.com/en/news/what-is-common-goal-juan-matas-charitable-initiative/9ebv9emew831k5zs19deolqe

www.gamedaynews.com/soccer/the-most-charitable-footballers-in-the-world-are-also-some-of-the-most-talented/?chrome=1

He is doing a great job he came across as genuine and very mature in his interview

There has always been snobbery towards footballers because the majority are form working class backgrounds unlike many rugby players and no doubt from some there will be an element of racism too

And agree the younger generation of footballers are so different from many that have been in the public eye by then many of the generation of MR age are far more socially aware

I love Marcus Rashford he seems such a genuine lovely lad, he was also involved in world book day activities & poetry to encourage kids & has learnt sign language I believe.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/16/marcus-rashford-politicians-nurses-footballer-ministers

I think it is more of a class thing....middle classes not sure if they like the working classes being so caring for poor people.
That is poor people who live in the UK.......

He seems to be a really great grounded man. And he knows the politicians are always full of bull....

A lot of footballers are intelligent and proactive in social matters. That doesn't sell papers though, does it?
I applaud Marcus Rashford. What a brilliant role model and passionate, articulate and compassionate man. Good on him.

Celebs are well advised by their handlers to back causes which will get them the most publicity. Footballers in particular need to work on their future career after they have spent 20 years playing shit football for England and winning nothing.
Wake up people, stop being taken in by the mafia. They are doing it for themselves an no one else.

That may well be true but the point is that contrary to popular opinion many footballers are "doing it".

I would agree that what you're probably seeing is surprise at him not being a stereotypical footballer or 22 year old or rich person.

I'm sure there is probably some racism in the mix too but I've not read any MSM so dont know.

What a charitable comment @sst1234.

What have you done this week to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the lives of children living in poverty?

sst1234Celebs are well advised by their handlers to back causes which will get them the most Wake up people, stop being taken in by the mafia. They are doing it for themselves an no one else.

Or perhaps Rashford remembers well what it feels like to grow up in poverty and need? Perhaps he has an iota of compassion to people in circumstances similar to those his family and friends were in? Perhaps he's not as cynical as you come across?

I don’t doubt the lad’s sincerity but, being super-cynical, the optics of this - in the current context - are excellent for the government.

I heard him talking on the radio earlier about how his mum was a single parent and how she struggled with 5 children but brought them all up by herself .
I had a tear in my eye listening to him, so I say Good on him.

I think it's fantastic he has shown such initiative.

It's worth remembering how mollycoddled young gifted footballers are. My former colleague went out with an England footballer and told us one morning, after staying over at his house, she asked him where the iron was. He replied "what's an iron?"

Turned out he had never ironed or bought clothes for himself as the Premiership club he played for sent out his club approved suits and a personal shopper sorted out and delivered anything else he wanted. He also had little awareness of what his bills were as another person dealt with them.

And this guy didn't even play for a European top tier club like Man Utd.

In this type of environment it's not surprising so many young footballers lack social awareness so MR is truly remarkable for spearheading and succeeding in his free school meals campaign.

I saw him being interviewed earlier and he came across as a genuine young man who hadn't forgotten his upbringing and wanted to speak up for others who are experiencing similar.

Now, what I would really love to see, is some male sports person or other, starting a campaign to educate young men about assuming their responsibilities when they father children, rather than buggering off and leaving it all to a lone Mum.

The optics are shit for the government, they look weak, dithering and media -led. All of which is true of course.

He’s a bloody hero, a fantastic, positive campaigner and to do and say what he has all for public good, and to have done this at only 22. I don’t think it’s ageism to say I’m absolutely wowed by that. There’s no way at his young age that I or anyone else I know could have the articulate maturity on a national political stage. Thank you Marcus (And please consider politics when the football is over!). I also love that he’s involved his mum so proudly in his work and I’ll happily admit to bias on that one. I’m a mum and admire her very much for bringing up 5 kids on her own and can only begin to imagine how hard that was.

I think it's the fact that he is a young, famous footballer who has got behind such an important issue which has caused the media attention. I don't think his skin colour has anything to do with it.

I think it's great that he has successfully campaigned for the free school meal vouchers to continue. It's a massive issue for many families and he remembers his family struggling when he was growing up.

What he has done is great and I think that as well as helping families with food, it will also go some way to inspiring children from poorer families when they see that he didn't come from a privileged background but has achieved success.