Dorretta Maynard

I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. What it opened up for me was how I was closed to the racism and struggles my parents faced.  I suppose as a child my parents protected us from it. Their resilience and backbone to face discrimination and the interjectory of a racist society, to still somehow raise us, feed us, protect us, educate us in a cold and foreign place that gave them nothing, made them feel like they were not welcomed, let alone able to access certain lifestyles because of the barriers they faced.

It made me look back and reflect on my childhood years when my parents and others who had come to Britain lived close knitted, together in the same houses that were sometimes in disrepair. Living side by side with the Irish and the odd Asian family.

I remember them throwing pardnor hands – fear of the banking system that did not treat them fairly. I remember sharing our home with my father’s brother and his wife until my parents got their own property. I remember my mum passing down the big Silvercross prams to neighbours.

I remember going to the original Smithfield market and barrow boys with my mum for fruits, vegetables etc. Looking bewildered and out of sorts with white bonnet head cover.  Seeing white folk stopping and looking at us and our parents scurrying us together. I remember the voices of the white folk but not really registering what they were saying, but by our mother’s reaction rushing us in, shutting the door quickly or gathering us up close and holding us tight.

It is only now that I can see and understand why.

Same mentality as slavery. We are here to work not to be seen. We are here to build them up whilst they tear us down and block us.

The workshop made me connect my past to what I have faced and experienced today. The realisation as to how much my parents and those who came in the Windrush have done for us to have a voice.

I told my story to the group of me, as a qualified Field Official and Team Manager for an Athletics Club.

As a qualified Field Official and Team Manager for an Athletics Club, I attended a Championships in 2018 to officiate in the Hammer throw and Long jump, plus scoreboard duties. I went in to claim my Officials duty sheet,  t- shirt, food voucher and sign in. I went to the desk and was greeted with stares. I was left at the desk waiting to be seen and checked in. The woman on the desk collated official items together – a jacket Sweatshirt and meal voucher – and took them over to the man standing by the door. She came back to desk and told me that I should not be in the room as its for officials and coaches. I told her, “Yes, I know, I am both an Official Coach and Team Manager for an athletics club”. She then proceeded to ask me for proof. I told her my name is on list and that I do not have my official licence card with me. I asked, “why are you asking me for proof?” She then said,  “because we do not give jackets, sweatshirts or t-shirts unless you show proof”. So, I said to her “so all that you have just given to the man standing at the door did he show you proof for it”. Her words were “he is an official”. I said “are you sure?” 

I waved over to the man he came over and he said, “what’s going on?” I asked him “are you an official?” He replied “no”. I asked him “did she ask you for proof?” He said “no”.  She then said “oh sorry, I thought you were an official”. The man then said “I am here with my wife” and pointed to me. So I said to her again “so why did you give him all those items without proof?” She said nothing. My husband then said to me,  “I wondered why she gave me them, I thought they were for you”. At this point I am fuming, so I raise a complaint.  The officials, team leaders and lead manager and other managers came and wanted to know what had happened. I wanted to know why racism exists in a sport that has majority of black athletes yet again competing for them, again making them champions winning gold medals etc. for the white man sorry I DIGRESS).They came in and spoke to her and she reluctantly apologised, looking at my husband and tried to make out she was being harrassed. I was very calm and my husband said “my wife has been doing this role for some time, and it is disgusting what has happened here today”.  I had to tell him “hunni I face this kind of behaviour all the time at these events”.

I then spoke to my club and told them of my ordeal and how it made me feel. Their reply was “well your husband does look like an official”. SLAP IN THE FACE, BLOW TO THE BELLY, BREAK ME DOWN so I replied “well what the FREAKING hell do I look like?”

A few other things happened that day but I will leave that. To this day I am waiting to resolve this and receive an official apology. The Head Manager did email saying sorry for my ordeal, but this kind of racism still happens and they still think they can train us to run like beasts to win them gold medals in GB VESTS.

SO DEMORALISING AND TIRING AND STILL THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY GOES ON.