Arsenal star Reiss Nelson reveals the depressing racism that he faces in own country

Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson has opened up about the racism he faced growing up in the UK, as the club honors its black players and fans during Black History Month.

In an interview with Arsenal Media, the 24-year-old revealed that he experienced racism from a young age, but it wasn’t until he was around 12 years old that he fully understood what was happening.

“I’d say it was a bit of both. Growing up, from the age of eight until about 12, you don’t realise the racial issues that are happening around you in certain areas,” Nelson said. “There were a lot of black people on my estate, so we felt that we were together as a group and were fine, but in and around the area, there are a lot of white people in Bermondsey, and a lot of times when you go to those areas on your own as a kid you realise certain things and have feelings that you don’t experience at home.”

Nelson went on to explain that even as a young child, he would face questions and scrutiny in predominantly white areas. “Then, maybe when you’re on a stairwell, you get questions: ‘Why are you around here?’ Or in a shop, maybe a designer shop that’s a bit out of your league, you have eyes on you, and you feel a kind of presence, you know? I don’t get it now, maybe because I’m a bit more recognisable, but until I was maybe about 16 I’d have people on me all the time, asking questions. You get those little stares, and you can feel it. It’s not a nice feeling to have.”

As Arsenal celebrates Black History Month, Nelson hopes that by sharing his experiences, he can help bring awareness to the issue of racism and encourage others to speak out against it. “I think it’s important for us to speak out about it and make sure that people are aware of it, because I think that’s the only way we can make a change,” he said. “We need to speak out and educate people, and hopefully, things will change.”