BAME Hammers is a new independent West Ham fans group giving a collective voice to all Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic supporters.
Chairman Lee Vehit told WHUFC.com “BAME is an acronym for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic.
When we first started discussing the independent group, even some of our more active members said they didn’t really understand what BAME stands for.
So, in terms of education, work still needs to be done to make sure people know this, to get them comfortable with the term, making sure that they understand BAME covers a multitude of ethnicities, races and cultures.
When it comes to the terminology and using the right words, it is something people are conscious of and can be concerned about. I sometimes feel like I don’t know the right terms for sexual orientation, ethnicities, for religions, so getting people comfortable with BAME is really important.”
If you would like to become a BAME Hammers member, you can get in touch through Instagram @bamehammers, Twitter @BAMEHammers or through their online registration form here.
Thought we were all just Hammers fans. Thought we were trying to kick race out of football. Why are we bringing in more dividing lines? Aren’t there enough platforms for all West Ham fans to have their say regardless of colour? My computer is anonymous, how do you know what colour I am when I post. You don’t and it doesn’t matter that you don’t because it’s not important. Seems like a backward step to me.
How is this a backward step, how is this not kicking racism out of football and how is it bring more deviding lines? Have you even taken time to read the artcile in the programme or online? have you spoken to any of the members? The group clearly state they want to bring people together and that everyone is welcome INCLUDING WHITE PEOPLE…if you beleive in diveristy, which is looks like you don’t then you would probably be welcome…
I tell you what stinks about some of the responses I have seen is that everyone claims ‘we are all West Ham’ yet they are digging out proper West Ham fans for doing something positive. A group that is trying to bring peoiple together, get the local community to engage, feel welcome at the club and grow the bame fanbase…lets be under no illusion our demographic in comparrison to the local community shares no simularities at all and I wonder why…
What are you doing in the community to make more people feel welcome other than making ****ty comments and making an argument on stuff that doesn’t exit. I’m sure your own political agenda is coming through here with subtle little digs…
The group talk about being able to celebrate the simularities in us all and sharing the common love of West Ham…does it bother you that Asian and Black West Ham fans want to do that?
Utterly stupid reply from yet another small minded Hammer content on misery and living in the dark ages…
First question should be, what are their aims and objectives.
From what little I’ve seen, it seems to include, BAME representation, involvement in club activities to ensure there is no accidental prejudice, increased West Ham fanbase from the local ethnic communities and have that community diversity represented within the football team.
There is nothing divisive in that.
In fact, I can’t see how it will be anything other than ineffective at worst, or best case scenario help West Ham to be even more inclusive.
The idea that society should live in unity and harmony will always be flawed by ethnic minorities insisting on having their own groups. We are all West Ham, personally I dont care if you’re black white green or anything inbetween, as long as you’re claret and blue you’re my pal end of.
Without wanting to sound like a caveman, imagine the uproar if someone started a “white west ham supporters group”.
Cue the “you’re racist” comments.
yes you do sound like a caveman and a racist. pointless arguments all for the sake of saying ‘we are all west ham despite your colour’ instead of what you really mean ‘ We are all west ham accept brown ones’…
Not another supporters group, diluting the impact. Wait, what about a group for mobility scooter users like me?😁
i wish you luck with this. Hope you don’t get **** by all the abled boddies fans when you lauch your scooter group…
and another thing…
the article says it would like to support the club when they make decisons about BAME supporters and feed into their diversity and inclusion policy….is that not a good thing? consulting the very people that are involved? would you prefer the spoke to 50 year old White man Dave Smith from Canning Town who only east roast beef for comment…
again another reason why this group is good be in existance… you getting the picture now??
50 year old Dave Smith???? Not a bigot =that’s ageism??? Where do you stop with all this segregation??? We are all claret and blue no more or less ? Keeping the faith for one and ALL THAT’S EVERY BODY C.O.Y.I
oh the irony…and once again…read the article and their objectives. They want to promote the simularities, get more BAME fans into the club…they are doing exactly what you say you believe in…
But how many more groups do we want ?
Sorry Hugh, but in all of this, your only response is to ask how many groups we need?
Surely the answer to that is as many as necessary! I can’t think of many others, perhaps a West Ham women’s group? But that’s the point, just because I don’t need a group, or any other collective to enjoy West Ham, doesn’t mean others don’t.
Your shocking response (or lack of) shows exactly why such a group is required. You can only see the world from your perspective and it is ignorant and hugely damaging to fail to recognise others’ perspectives.
I have many other issues to consider. I have no concern one way or another- why? Cos I have never been a member of a supporters’ group and don’t feel the need to do anything other than support my team I feel groups merely politicise the game. It’s up to each of us to define ourselves as we see fit and I don’t need to join up with others to do so. If that#s shocking so be it!
I agree Mooro, just imagine the uproar if a group were started called white only hammers.
Too much division, we all support the same team, regardless of race or colour!!
Yeah god forbid….what an idiot you are.
Again, educate yourself, read the article online or in the programme if you actually go to games…and you’ll see what they want to do.
If we all supported the same team and valued an asia or black hammer the same as a white one you wouldn’t even comment.
Your political agenda is coming through nice and clear. We know what side of the fence you sit on and it isn’t on the brown one…
And another thing caveman….
where does it say whites cant join? for as far as I can see everyone is welcome if you want to discuss diversity and equality.
Probably topics far too interlectual for you. stick to comics and GSB protests…
For someone using the title NOT A BIGOT, you really are.
So you are not a bigot not a bigot but you do have a spiteful tongue and a venomous repost
to anyone who has a different opinion to you is that not a trait of a bigot
Hey not a bigot,
I understand the need for an Inclusive culture etc, that is fine and encouraged by all. But saying that comment about Smith from Canning Town who eats beef is just as bad as me saying Singh from (Insert Town) who only eats curry and doesn’t assimilate with the society they live In.
I’m an Aussie and love Westham so do I get a group? No because that’s not the Left Wing Agenda
Not a bigot? Really? You seem to think that all other West Ham fans are racist and all the comments on here are motivated by anti BAME sentiments. You have a completely wrong impression of most Hammers fans. I was merely questioning why we couldn’t address any BAME issues through the channels that already exist. You spouting your bile at the rest of us does your argument only harm and creates animosity and division. These are the very things you claim to desire a remedy for.
I kind of get the point. Some people say Football has always been tribal but what’s wrong with the one tribe of West Ham. If your West Ham it doesn’t matter the colour of your skin and I say that as an Asian man. the only colour or colours that matter to me are claret and blue. Why do we need all these different supporters groups? Why cant we just be inclusive as a whole instead of encouraging separatism and distinguishing ourselves as separate and different to others.
Well said Mustaphi. I tried to put that point over in my original comment but Not a Bigot decided to be one.