Racial slurs thrown at Adam Jones, anthem singer at Red Sox games

Reports of racial slurs hurled during a recent Red Sox game turned a national eye to the team’s troubled history with discrimination. In the stands, a white fan wearing Red Sox paraphernalia criticized the national anthem rendition by Kenyan singer Mercy Mungai and referred to her with a racial slur. One night earlier, fans allegedly targeted Baltimore Orioles player Adam Jones with slurs and Jones said one threw a bag of peanuts at him. The peanut thrower was ejected, as was the man who disparaged Mungai.

For many, such instances of racism in liberal Boston speak to a reality all-too familiar.

“This incident lays bare the racism that many residents of our city grapple with on a regular basis, and clearly demonstrates that we have more work to do,” City Councilor Ayanna Pressley said. “The work ahead of us is not only for Fenway and the city at large to feel safe to visitors, but to be safe, welcoming and inclusive of people who call Boston home year-round.”

Jones has said that while he has been subjected to derogatory taunts in Fenway before, the Monday night in Boston was the worst he experienced.

Problematic history

Historically, the Red Sox have a poor record on race. In 1945, the team held tryouts for three black players — Jackie Robinson, Sam Jethroe and Marvin Williams — that seemed little more than pretense. The team elected to sign none of them. By accounts of Clif Keane, a sportswriter at the time, at the end of tryouts someone shouted, “Get those N—–rs off the field!” Keane reportedly suspected team owner Tom Yawkey was the one who said this.

Robinson went on to become a star for the Brooklyn Dodgers and earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jethroe was named Rookie of the Year in 1950 while playing with the Boston Braves, and Williams left an impressive record playing in the Negro Leagues. The Red Sox would continue to overlook and reject black players, including scouting and then declining to sign Willie Mays. The team’s routine rejection of talent has been largely seen a major factor in the perceived “curse of the Bambino.”

It was not until August 1959 that the Red Sox diversified, bringing on Elijah “Pumpsie” Green and becoming the last league in the nation to integrate.

Issues continued, with Red Sox player and later staff member Tommy Harper (rated most valuable player in 1973) reporting extensive racism. His allegations included racial slurs from fans and staff, as well as unequal pay, accommodations and opportunities. He blew the whistle on discriminatory conditions, including reporting that only white players got access to an exclusive Elks Club and that the team was conducting sham interviews of minority candidates, in violation of diversity agreements. In 1979, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination cited the team for failure to comply with promises to improve racial diversity in hiring throughout the ranks, including players, coaches, managers, ticket takers and grounds crew. Harper said he faced employment retaliation for exposing the team’s discrimination — an accusation that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission upheld.

Red Sox today

In 2003 the Red Sox got a new owner, John Henry, whose history included helping black residents of the South register to vote during the 1960s. That same year the team signed on David Ortiz, a Dominican of African descent, who played a critical role in the team breaking its World Series championship dry spell in 2004. By 2013, the team included Japanese player Koji Uheara and Aruban shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Still, in 2008, a Boston Magazine story reported that many athletes regarded Boston as so racist that they did not wish to play here.

Following the reported racial incidents in May 2017, the Red Sox banned for life the fan who admitted to directing a slur at the anthem singer, and Boston police said they spoke to Jones about his allegations. A Major League Baseball spokesperson said the MLB would review protocols around handling reports of slurs in all 30 stadiums, and Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy decried the harassment and apologized to Jones. Henry and Kennedy said they may permanently ban any fans who use offensive language.

“No player should have an object thrown at him on the playing field, nor be subjected to any kind of racism at Fenway Park,” Kennedy said in a statement. “The Red Sox have zero tolerance for such inexcusable behavior, and our entire organization and our fans are sickened by the conduct of an ignorant few.”

Jones told USA Today that steeper punishment than ejection from the stadium should have been taken against the person who threw a bag of peanuts at him, and proposed $10,000 to $30,000 fine.

“At the end of the day, when you throw an object onto the field of play, the player has no idea what it is. What if something hit me right in the eye and I can’t play baseball anymore. Then what?” Jones said.

The day after Jones was targeted, Red Sox fans greeted Jones with cheers and a standing ovation, in a demonstration against racism. Jones said the ovation was greatly appreciated.

Local politicians reacted as well, going on record to condemn the abuse.

“Fenway fans behavior at the #RedSox game last night was unacceptable & shameful,” Governor Charlie Baker wrote on Twitter. “This is not what Massachusetts & Boston are about.’’

“No one should be subjected to racial slurs anywhere in our city,” Boston City Council President Michelle Wu said. “It’s an insult to all of Boston and all Red Sox fans that these words were used in the name of our home team.”

Mayor Martin Walsh and City Councilor Tito Jackson, a mayoral candidate, both decried the incidents.

State Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry said the racial harassment demonstrates a need for continuing work on combating intolerance in sports and in the state. Forry met with Kennedy and his staff to discuss protocols on reacting to hate speech and making games welcoming.

“I acknowledge and thank President Kennedy for his quick response in denouncing the use of racial slurs and am encouraged by Red Sox’s zero tolerance policy which includes a lifetime ban from Fenway Park,” Forry said. “When hate speech is used, we must take immediate action. I encourage fans to follow Sam Kennedy’s lead, speak up and play a role in making the Red Sox experience great for everyone. “