Page 8
Call Sign February 2012
There have been controversial Tweets from
Is Diane Abbott right?
black Labour MP Diane Abbott on feeling
dubious of black people who claimed they
Do Taxi Drivers Refuse
had never experienced racism: Ever tried
hailing a taxi, she asked? So Call Sign con-
ducted a survey and spoke to several Dial-a-
Black Passengers?
Cab drivers to see what they thought of the
MP's comments...
off down the street away from the rank, obviously
her comments are totally unfounded. I will happi-
Tony Bishop (J91):"It
realising she had hit a blank wall.
ly pick up anybody if they look presentable, but of
doesn't bother me
"On another occasion I arrived at the credit
course, I have to look after me especially when
what colour a person
client's address where the passenger began hav-
working during the hours of darkness. So, like
is, but it is a fact that
ing a go at me, phoning the call centre to vent his
many drivers no doubt, I will not stop for drunks
most bilks occur in
displeasure. I eventually got him to his destina-
or others that look like potential trouble. But you
certain areas and
tion, with lots of grief along the way.As he got out
have to make a snap decision whether to stop or
that's why I may not
of the cab he called me a piece of s**t, slamming
not."
stop not because
the cab door in the process.
the person is a par-
Jackie Kott (Y88): "I
"Another time I had a drunken lady in the cab
ticular colour. They
work late into the
that had fallen fast asleep by the time we reached
could be Chinese, orthodox Jews or whatever, the
night and have never
her destination.To cut a long story short, even the
colour of their skin does not bother me at all."
seen a drunken black
male police officer decided to call a female police
person, and in my 20
John Rothery (F65):"I
officer to wake her up. Can you imagine what
year taxi driving career
might have happened if I had approached her on
have never been that
I have had no prob-
my own? But I accept every driver needs to be
selective of passen-
lems with black pas-
ultra-cautious under those circumstances."
gers. I remember
sengers. I usually find
"However, Diane Abbott should think carefully
stopping
near
them to be a charming
about what effect her missives have on other peo-
Buckingham Palace
and respectable sector of the community. In fact the
ple in the wider community before she opens her
once for a lady and
only grief I've had has been from white and not black
mouth. We must not be judgemental but treat
four youngsters, two
people! I'll stop for the first hand I see to go up to hail
everybody as individuals. I treat people as I see
of whom were black.
me and will take them wherever they wish to go.Yes,
them, you simply cannot generalise."
I was somewhat sur-
even south of the river although I am wary in areas
Trevor Smith (V78):"I
prised when one of the black children asked me
such as Brixton or Harlesden,simply because I prefer
think that Diane
if it was true that taxis didn't stop for black peo-
to work in town."
Abbott was right,
ple. But before I could take a breath to respond,
racism is a fact. I was
John Dixon (B67): "I
the adult escort told him to be quiet, pointing out
at the Croydon taxi
use my sixth sense
that I had in fact stopped for them!"
rank and a cab driver
before I stop for any-
Louis Loizou (T58): "I
refused to stop to
one regardless of
stop for anyone
pick me up despite
who or what colour
because it's true that
me being loaded
that person is - and if
you can't judge a
down with shopping
I feel doubtful about
book by its cover. I
bags. Another time I
the pick-up, then it
recently stopped for a
was third cab on the Waterloo rank. The first cab
doesn't
happen!
guy who had been
pulled off the rank as black people approached,
Thinking back over
passed by several
only to make a `U' turn and re-join the rank at the
the years, the only dodgy experiences I've had has
cabs travelling along
back of the queue simply to avoid picking them
been from whites, not blacks. And I doubt
the road ahead of me.
up. I tried remonstrating with the driver con-
whether I would recognise Diane Abbott if I saw
He was covered in tattoos, even his face, let alone
cerned who told me there were two types of peo-
her on the street!"
his arms and no doubt the rest of his body too! He
ple he did not stop for; Blacks and Irish. He did
turned out to be a really nice bloke to talk to as
qualify the statement with the enlightening com-
Call Sign also spoke to two of DaC's black drivers
we chatted on the way to Muswell Hill. He was a
ment that he could not have told they were Irish
to see whether their perspective was different.
tattoo designer, so he was displaying his trade for
until they opened their mouth to speak!"
Tony Sam-Yorke (W95) and Trevor Smith (V78)
all to see! It all depends on the passengers
"I am cautious when accepting longer rides, polite-
had stories of discrimination, both inside the cab
demeanour because even `suits' can be rude. So I
ly requesting some form of payment in advance, but
and out and perhaps give some credence to Diane
that is a business decision and nothing to do with
judge people on spec, although I accept that it
Abbott's comments.
selectivity.Yes, I've had trouble with passengers, some
might be a bit different working nights.You have
Tony
Sam-Yorke
using the `N' word and I've had hotels abroad tell me
to make that split-second judgement as you
they were full up but miraculously find accommoda-
(W95): "When I'm out
approach people!"
tion for the white folk behind me."
and about, I routinely
Ray Cahalan (Y75): "I
"A big part of my life is and always has been foot-
display my Green
worked nights for 30
ball* and when I was 18 I was invited to play for
Badge in my hand if
years so I'm aware of
Dulwich Hamlet football team, then managed by
I'm looking to hail a
particular areas to be
Alan Smith.A taxi driver refused to take me to meet
taxi, otherwise it
cautious of, but I
the transport coach, which meant I missed the
might be pot-luck. I
don't care who the
coach taking the team to the game. As a football
can tell you of
people are, just so
coach myself nowadays, I understand the impor-
instances during my
tance of player reliability so missing that game was
long as the meter is
working day or when out socialising with relatives
important because in Alan Smith's eyes, it meant he
running! Mind you,
and friends where racism does become apparent.
could not rely on me. Alan went on to manage
When I say `anybody',
"On one occasion I was the first cab on the rank
Crystal Palace and I sometimes wonder if that inci-
I don't include hoodies in that!"
dent may have had a bearing on my later football
and an Arab woman walked directly up to the sec-
Lawrence Short (E68):
career.Anyway, some good has come of it because I
ond cab, completely ignoring me.The second dri-
"Diane Abbott is bang out of
regularly stress to my children and the youngsters I
ver directed her toward me and I saw the woman
order.We are a diverse com-
coach that dignity, honesty and reliability are very
rub her forefinger against the back of her other
important attributes in a person."
munity and trade. There are
hand, obviously indicating the colour of my skin.
*Trevor was the DaC football team's record
Muslim drivers, black dri-
To his credit, I overheard the second driver tell the
scorer, twice scoring 6 goals in a single match
vers, both men and women
woman that if she did not wish to get into my taxi,
and knocking in countless hat-tricks...Ed
and also of course white
she was not going to get into his or any of the
men and women, so I feel
other taxis on the rank. So she grudgingly walked
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