At Fenway Park a group of about eight (five could afford the ticket, I guess) melanin-impaired folks decided to put a sign up. During the fourth inning. A very, very large sign, not allowed at a ballpark, with a message that hacked people off. The sign read “Racism is as American as Baseball.” This sign, which was nice and ambiguous, was confusing and really did nothing to address any actual racist incidents. Fenway has had more than a few real racist acts in the park recently but, no, we are going for a blanket statement making no real sense.

Said sign is a piss-poor attempt to call attention to institutionalized racism. Good intentions and flat out stupid delivery. Four cupcakes tossed out a sign and were ejected from the park for violating park rules which are printed on the ticket. And to make things worse, these charming folks detracted from the game and the veteran recognition going on below. But they had good intentions as stated here:

“We want to remind everyone that just as baseball is fundamental to American culture and history, so too is racism,” the group said in a written statement. “White people need to wake up to this reality before white supremacy can truly be dismantled. We urge anyone who is interested in learning more or taking action to contact their local racial justice organization.”

There are three good reasons this was the wrong message, stated really badly.

First problem was that the sign-wielders are privileged white people skirting ballpark rules. It must be nice to be able to afford Fenway seats, on the Green Monster no less. Said tickets, where you and your big sign wer,e start about $145. Each. But don’t let facts get in the way of sanctimonious posturing.

“Racism is as American” sign held by three white kids at a fairly expensive Boston Red Sox game lmao.

— Baker (@Remember_Baker) September 14, 2017

LOL, good question! 😁

— Ryan Scates (@scatesryan3) September 14, 2017

Same question I had. Last year we took a trip to the Great American Ballpark with a small cooler containing a couple sandwiches, fruit, and pop. And security checked that cooler. I cannot fathom how that large sign walked into the stadium.

Second reason these folks are wrong: racism is a sin. Pure and simple. My Catholic friends explain this nicely here:

When we give in to our fears of the other because he or she is of a race different from ourselves, when we prejudge the motives of others precisely because they are of a different color, when we stereotype or ridicule the other because of racial characteristics and heritage, we fail to heed the command of the Prophet Amos: “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; then truly will the Lord… be with you as you claim!… Then let justice surge like water, and goodness like an unfailing stream.”

That would be the Roman Catholic bishops (USCCB) speaking. And around Boston, the racists that the cupcakes are ineptly trying to call out are generally leaning Catholic in that neck of the woods. Not practicing the faith or representing the faith, but they identify with it (sort of).

Third: the message they had was just confusing. HuffPo even addressed that here

Agreed. If you’re going to drop a banner like that, put a little more thought into the clarity of the message.

— Tom Morash (@censorthis) September 14, 2017

They’re saying “Look at me! Look at me! “

— NEO Sportswagon (@NeoSportswagon) September 14, 2017

And then there is this:

Worst part was it was done as they were honoring a military service member. #disrespectful

— The RedSox bandwagon (@josh__pransky) September 14, 2017

Guys, try addressing actual incidents next time, or being clear enough that you don’t get mistaken for Tiki Nazis. Just saying.