English Studies, Playing the Game

Persuasive exposition
Racism in sport is a very serious issue that must stop! Racism and discrimination is
extremely harmful to an individual, mentally, and emotionally. So many famous people are
discriminated just from their colour. For instance, an ex AFL player Adam Goodes was called
an ‘ape’ by a 14-year old girl. Adam was outraged at what the girl had said about him and
caused him to not celebrate the Swans’ victory at the end of the game. This shows the
detrimental effects that racism has on a person. Latrell Mitchel was also discriminated and
vilified on social media for not singing the National Anthem for the State of Origin. As well as
this, Panthers NRL star Brent Naden recently got abused during one of his games by a group
of eight men. This shows that racism is everywhere and that it affects so many different
people.
Adam Goodes left the sporting industry due to the types of discrimination he was receiving
for having a ‘mixed’ heritage. He spoke out on national television about the types of
comments he was receiving and how it affected him and impacted the whole Indigenous
community. Adam Goodes is outraged about what the young girl said about him on the
field. In an interview, Goodes expressed that, “Racism has face and tonight it was a 14-year
old girl.” For this girl to say such things, it reflects the environment in which she has been
brought up in and thinking that it is okay to say such racist things.
Racism occurs in our everyday lives – it is happening all around us each day. This must STOP,
it is harmful and affecting so many people! End it now.