Every October, the Kick It Out organisation facilitates a fortnight’s activity to promote Anti-Racism In Football. The 2009 One Game, One Community national campaign started on Thursday October 15th - with the 92 League clubs, non-league clubs and many other community and youth associations organising hundreds of Kick It Out events during the KIO fortnight.

Please visit their website at www.kickitout.org

All the key figures in the game endorse the KIO message: England boss Fabio Capello said: "Football is more than a sport. It is a phenomenon with an international language all of its own.”

”The One Game, One Community weeks of action show all that is good about football, “Capello continues, “Our ability to work and live together and break down barriers should never be underestimated.”

RamsTrust are promoting the KIO campaign for a seventh year. We are operating our JJB Soccerdome ‘Rendezvous’ close to Pride Park Stadium before Derby County’s home game with Queen’s Park Rangers on Saturday, October 24th. We hope to see you there!

Despite the perpetual KIO campaign, regular incidents arise where latent racism rears its ugly head yet again. There are FA charges to answer by West Ham United and Millwall regarding violent, threatening and racist behaviour arising from their recent Carling cup clash.

Racism was only one element of those disturbances but regrettably we still see reports of racist behaviour at football and other sporting events. Players and fans can be the target of abuse or even violence from racists and it is this behaviour that the campaign seeks to eradicate.

Alongside the economic recession, increasingly extreme right-wing politics are emerging in British society, with greater acceptance of a ‘blame’ culture. Prejudice and racially motivated hostility displace causes of the decline onto minorities; racism seeks to exclude them from employment or other aspects of our society on the basis of ethnic origin or skin colour.

Unity and social inclusion, with understanding of and tolerance for diversity within our society are themes that runs through sport, art and literature; the Kick It Out campaign stresses how football can play a role to integrate minorities in the community.

Sport and popular culture have always featured strongly alongside each other as unifying pursuits. Football and music aspire to entertain and educate, bringing people together through enjoyment and participation. Malignant loyalties and divisive messages from racist elements must never be allowed to threaten those aspirations.

Musicians, like footballers can inspire others, communicating anti-racism messages as broadly as possible to stimulate their audience - regardless of background, race, religion or culture - towards higher aspirations for themselves.

Black culture expresses those aspirations comprehensively; remember striking songs like “Young, Gifted and Black” or “Why Can’t We Live Together?” The precocious young reggae star, Hugh Mundell, wrote: “I’m a member of the human race, don’t judge me by the colour of my face; whether black or white, let’s all unite”.

Unity is the theme, Football is the scheme; let’s all unite - to Kick It Out!

The Trader column is for individual members of RamsTrust to put their point of view across in the media. Although the views will not contravene the principles of the trust, the views expressed are entirely personal to the author and do not necessarily represent RamsTrust policy.