I have been talking and writing about Don Cherry, hockey, racism, and sports culture all week. I am tired.

Here is one thing I do know: many Canadians are unprepared (and unwilling) to accept, or discuss, the systems of white supremacy and classism that fester in hockey.

People with privilege will work so hard in objecting to BIPoC or allies speaking openly about racism in sport. And they work so hard trying to prove them wrong or dismiss lived experiences. Instead of actually dismantling said oppressive systems.

Hockey is great. People love hockey. Hockey is not the problem.
People who refuse to acknowledge problems in hockey are the problem.
No one is attacking your kids.
People are sharing about hiw their kids were hurt, bullied away from the rink, or left feeling isolated.

If you are a white person and has never witnessed microaggressions towards a BIPoC, or have been racist, you do not get a cookie.

On Sunday a friend messaged me to say how her son (he is 8 yo) has a teammate of South Asian descent. A player on the opposite team (9 yo) called him the n-word.
And these experiences happen all the time. People dismiss.
But, yeah. Go after Jess Allen. That's the solution.

I love Canada. I love hockey. I hate the structural racism that is a foundation of both.
Help fix it. Or get in the box.