100 Voices #AllAgainstRacism: Denis Frimpong – "They’re not here to take your job. They’re here to survive or to get a better life for themselves. Just like the Irish were when they went abroad"

Denis Frimpong,
Martial Arts Star

When I first moved here, there was a lot more racism. As a kid, I got into a lot of fights in school, over being called a black cunt, people using the N-word. I lived in Cavan, and there were very few black people around. So a lot of the time you would end up with a teacher siding with the racism or making it seem okay. Certain things were said that may not be OK to be said now.

A lot has definitely changed as I’ve grown up and gone through college. It’s gotten better for sure – it’s not cool to be racist, you know? – but I wouldn’t say it’s disappeared altogether.

There’s a lot more black-owned businesses in Dublin. There’s a lot more inclusion on sports teams, with a few lads on the county teams in GAA. We’re seeing a lot more influences with Brazilians coming in – that’s gotten people more used to seeing people of colour.

I think we just need to listen to each other more. And we need more integration in the sense that there’s obviously areas now that are getting to be known as ‘Black areas’ – which was never a thing when I was growing up. And that’s something that’s started to bring some negative media, especially with a lot of these right-wing parties.

Communication is key. We need to listen to people that are from other countries; find out what it’s like where they came from; hear their stories – because then you can really begin to understand why they’re here. They’re not here to take your job. They’re here to survive or to get a better life for themselves. Just like the Irish were when they went abroad.

Read Part 1 of 100 Voices: #AllAgainstRacism, in the current issue of Hot Press. Available to pick up in shops now, or to order online below:

Special thanks to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission for their support in this project.