We Only Deal Inna Sterling
Viral meme highlights British racism and reinforces Black and White resistance against it
England has never been in the European Championship final (think regional World Cup) and the country is literally in a tailspin. It’s just like a Miami Dolphins fan wondering if they’ll ever win a Super Bowl! England beat #Denmark 2–1 and will face #Italy on Sunday, 11, July.
I don’t know who the originator of this meme is but it is likely they are a person of British Jamaican descent. It speaks to Black and Caribbean people directly and those who understand our language and our struggles in the U.K. and with Europe.
Here’s the breakdown most media, public relations, and communications professionals missed about the social and political significance of this viral meme.
“Euros?”: Accentuates English Nationalism
The pound sterling is another (symbol: £; ISO code: GBP), is known in some contexts simply as the pound or sterling, and is the official currency of the United Kingdom. The Euro is the currency of much of Europe and since Britain’s dramatic exit from the European Union (Brexit) it spoke loudly to White Britons of the UK’s financial superiority, as the pound sterling is valued higher than the Euro. It also deeply affirms England’s staunch nationalism and reinforces its xenophobic pride.