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I think you're right that a lot of people are confused about the meaning of 'systemic racism' - not least Eddie McGuire. I think it is genuinely possible that EM still doesn't get what it means, even though I presume he is a reasonably intelligent person who has every reason to know and who has lost his career in part because he has failed to figure it out.
However I'm not sure I agree that systemic racism means "regular and ongoing racism" or that it encompasses situations where Heretier Lumumba was called by the monikers "chimp" and "slave". In the Do Better report they equate systemic racism with indirect racism and they contrast it with direct racism. Calling people racist epithets is an example of direct racism (as in the various examples cited in Do Better). It is much more likely in instances of direct racism that people know they are being racist. Whereas it is normal that people who are not oppressed by indirect (or systemically/structurally/institutionally) racist policies may not notice the racism inherent in the policy.
To give an example, imagine a country pub in a town with a disadvantaged Indigenous community. It would be directly racist if the pub had a policy "no blacks served here". But a policy that says "you must wear a collar and closed shoes to enter the lounge bar" may be indirectly racist because it may impact disproportionately to exclude the disadvantaged Indigenous community members. It is not overtly racist, but it's impact is felt differently by different parts of the community. People who live with oppression often say the indirect barriers to participating in society are more harmful than the overt instances of exclusion.
When I put "systemic racism" into Google one of the first hits that came up was this article that explains "what is systemic racism" in the context of the film industry: Explainer: what is systemic racism and institutional racism? (theconversation.com). I only glanced at it and I'm sure you'll find other (and better) resources online to explain what systemic racism is but it's a starting point.
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This the most pertinent quote about the topic I can find in the Do Better report:
The 2011 policy on bullying makes no reference to racism. The 2020 policy notes both direct (interpersonal) and indirect (structural) racism. This points to a critical flaw in previous policies that also goes some way to explaining why, internally, there was little ability to address issues of racism in the past when it arose and when complaints were made. This may also account for the claims of racism made by people within the Club that complaints were not taken seriously, and no action was taken in response to them. It also shows that, when incidents have occurred, there was little internal guidance on how to raise an issue or on how the Club ought to respond. This also reinforces the perception that the Club sees racism as a reputational and public relations problem.
However I'm not sure I agree that systemic racism means "regular and ongoing racism" or that it encompasses situations where Heretier Lumumba was called by the monikers "chimp" and "slave". In the Do Better report they equate systemic racism with indirect racism and they contrast it with direct racism. Calling people racist epithets is an example of direct racism (as in the various examples cited in Do Better). It is much more likely in instances of direct racism that people know they are being racist. Whereas it is normal that people who are not oppressed by indirect (or systemically/structurally/institutionally) racist policies may not notice the racism inherent in the policy.
To give an example, imagine a country pub in a town with a disadvantaged Indigenous community. It would be directly racist if the pub had a policy "no blacks served here". But a policy that says "you must wear a collar and closed shoes to enter the lounge bar" may be indirectly racist because it may impact disproportionately to exclude the disadvantaged Indigenous community members. It is not overtly racist, but it's impact is felt differently by different parts of the community. People who live with oppression often say the indirect barriers to participating in society are more harmful than the overt instances of exclusion.
When I put "systemic racism" into Google one of the first hits that came up was this article that explains "what is systemic racism" in the context of the film industry: Explainer: what is systemic racism and institutional racism? (theconversation.com). I only glanced at it and I'm sure you'll find other (and better) resources online to explain what systemic racism is but it's a starting point.
- - - Updated - - -
This the most pertinent quote about the topic I can find in the Do Better report:
The 2011 policy on bullying makes no reference to racism. The 2020 policy notes both direct (interpersonal) and indirect (structural) racism. This points to a critical flaw in previous policies that also goes some way to explaining why, internally, there was little ability to address issues of racism in the past when it arose and when complaints were made. This may also account for the claims of racism made by people within the Club that complaints were not taken seriously, and no action was taken in response to them. It also shows that, when incidents have occurred, there was little internal guidance on how to raise an issue or on how the Club ought to respond. This also reinforces the perception that the Club sees racism as a reputational and public relations problem.
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