More and more black athletes are speaking up about racism in society, including Montana Onyebuchi, a 20-year-old defenceman with the Kamloops Blazers, who says racism exists everywhere in society, including on the ice.
Speaking to NL Sports, Onyebuchi recalled an incident in Kelowna from last year. After a racial slur was hurled his way, he took matters into his own hands when he physically attacked the offending Rockets player – resulting in the WHL handing down a two-game suspension for both players.
He says he talked to his mother after the game, when she asked him why he freaked out.
“She told me sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt me. I said to her back, but I’m hurt mom,” Onyebuchi recalled. “She went silent for a bit, and I could hear the sadness in her voice and she said, ‘I’m sorry baby boy, who am I to say what hurts you?'”
Onyebuchi is of Nigerian descent and grew up in Dugald, Manitoba, just outside of Winnipeg. He says racist comments like what happened to him in Kelowna, happen all the time.
“Those cuts, they turn to scars, but they heal over time,” he added. “They don’t completely heal but you always have that reminder of the pain you felt when it happened. It’s time for us to wake up. Like Will Smith said, ‘racism isn’t getting worse, its just getting filmed.’ What are you going to do?”
Onyebuchi has been watching the rallies taking place in cities across North America, and when asked what he hopes to gain out of this movement, he replied with one word – “Equality.”
Past & present WHL players are speaking out on #BlackLivesMatter. We support you & stand with you ♥️ @KGervais16 @SandersMekai @StringerZack @MontanaOny2 @SourdifJustin @jadonj9 @KWilly__99 @Kjerome_wils @TysonGreenway @Eprice_3https://t.co/BQmprfqyXe pic.twitter.com/4fOs4gMQIl
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 4, 2020
While it’s isolated, I’ve seen @MontanaOny2 deal with racism in the WHL. Full interview tomorrow @RadioNLNews but just listen to what he had to say about an incident in 2018. Powerful to say the least:https://t.co/dTZ2RevUwX pic.twitter.com/T5yxNpmLzi
— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) June 5, 2020
