Was it even possible for Sam Kerr to be racist to a white cop? Meet the expert who says NO

An Australian academic says comments Matildas captain Sam Kerr allegedly made to a white London police officer could not have been racist.

Kerr has pleaded not guilty to a charge of racially aggravated harassment causing alarm or distress to a police officer during an incident in Twickenham, south-west London, in January last year.

It has been alleged that the Matlidas ace called the officer a “stupid white cop” in an alleged incident in which she vomited in a London taxi and got into a dispute over the fare.

Kerr has spoken only to plead not guilty and confirm her identity in court, facing a four-day trial that could lead to her being deported or even imprisoned.

Associate Professor Mario Peucker, senior researcher at Victoria University of Melbourne, wrote an article explaining why “reverse racism” or racism directed at whites is a myth.

‘White people can be called a derogatory name in reference to their whiteness. They may be discriminated against: for example, by an ethnic business owner who prefers to employ someone from their community background,” he wrote.

‘This can sometimes be illegal. At other times, it may be a legal form of ‘positive action’ or ‘affirmative action’, aimed at reducing historically entrenched, intergenerational and systemic inequalities,’ the article continues.

“But in all of these cases, and regardless of whether it is legal or not, the term racism or ‘reverse racism’ would not apply.”

Peucker wrote that claims of reverse racism were a sign of “white fragility” in the face of growing awareness of racism in Australia.

“Reverse racism is a biased, reductionist, and ultimately inaccurate understanding of racism,” he wrote.

Professor Peucker endorsed that article on Friday on a radio station. 2GB.

‘Sam Kerr is accused of racially aggravated harassment, right?’ Professor Peucker asked.

‘The harassment part is a bit ridiculous. I don’t disagree that it is racial, but we have to make the difference between racial (and racist).

‘He said ‘white,’ so there is a reference to race, but it’s not racist.

“That’s something we often get confused about and it’s an important difference.”

Host Chris O’Keefe pressed Professor Peucker and asked why the comment couldn’t be considered racist.

‘Racial is something that refers to race, right? Racist refers to racism,’ the teacher responded.

He then went on to explain how historical racial hierarchies and power imbalances need to exist for comments to be racist.

“The power imbalance does not exist when a person of color talks to a white person and says something racial to them,” he said.

O’Keefe then asked Professor Peucker if it was impossible for a person of color to be racist towards a white person.

“You cannot be racist in an Australian context or in a British context,” the professor confirmed.

‘The power imbalance is clearly (present).

“Our society harms people of color more than white people.”

Australian football fans have been quick to support Kerr.

Both the premiers of New South Wales and Western Australia also said Kerr’s comments were not racist.

When New South Wales Premier Chris Minns was asked on Thursday whether Kerr’s alleged comment should be considered racist, he said clearly and emphatically: “no.”

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook echoed Minns’ sentiments when asked about Kerr’s alleged comments.

‘I don’t think it’s racist. “Sam is a great Western Australian,” Mr Cook said.

“She’s done a lot for Western Australian sport and a lot for women’s and girls’ sports.”

Football legend Robbie Slater also downplayed his alleged comments.

“Without trivializing what he might have said, it seems like something silly might have happened, it’s a strange thing,” Slater told Sky News on Thursday.

“I’ve been called much worse things, I assure you.”