With his life and wealth seemingly a fixation of British tabloids, Sterling was the subject of alleged racial abuse during a Premier League game against Chelsea in December.
The 24-year-old has been labelled flashy by a vicious media, criticised and highlighted for both spending the money has earned on things such as a house for his mother, and for not spending it by flying on a budget airline or eating at Greggs.
Having been abused by a fan at Stamford Bridge, Sterling highlighted last year the way that black players are portrayed differently from white players when he shared media headlines about teammates Tosin Adarabioyo and Phil Foden each buying a house for their family.
The reaction to Adarabioyo was negative, publicising his wage and the fact he was yet to start a Premier League game. Foden's wage was not revealed and his act drew praise.
"It is not just me," Sterling told The New York Times.
"Whenever you see a report on a black player or a black entertainer it has to end up with money, or bling, or cars, or something flashy. With a successful white person, it is nice, short, sweet, what a lovable person. Name me one white player who is thought of as 'blingy.'"
In the interview, the name of Cristiano Ronaldo was put forward as a proposed 'blingy' white player and Sterling explained why the perception of Ronaldo is not the same.
"If he is showing you his car, showing he is on top of the world, if that is what he puts out, then call him flashy. But I'm not showing you that, so why are you calling me that?" the player said.
"It is a stereotype of black people: chains and jewellery, bling and money. These are words that are associated with black people.
"If I was showing 10 cars on my driveway, if I was on Instagram biting my gold chain, or with two Rolexes on, you can call me flashy. But you can't label me as that if I am not portraying that."
Sterling even recalled a media story that accused him of flaunting his wealthy by having one car for every day of the week, seven in total. The reality was the pictures such reports had collated were of him driving the various cars at different times over six years. Never did he own seven at once.
In fact, right now, he and his partner own just one vehicle each. Sterling even said he is "in the process of selling mine, to get a more subtle one," something that is not the behaviour of an individual who wants to be on show. And yet, the media has created this perception of him.
in monday's @nytsports print editions. raheem sterling @sterling7 talks to @RorySmith about racial abuse, media stereotypes and rising above it. a rare look at how the english phenom deals with it all. illos by @Crackedhat pic.twitter.com/2Q9coiMhhp
— Josh Crutchmer (@jcrutchmer) March 11, 2019
Sterling doesn't actually blame the people who write the stories, nor does he believe it is coming from a racist place. It can breed racist behaviour in society, however, which is why he urged for 'fair publicity' and to 'give all players an equal chance' when highlighting Adarabioyo and Foden.
"I am not saying the papers are doing it on purpose," Sterling continued in his NY Times interview.
"The people that read it take it in and judge straightaway who the person is. [The media] are fuelling it for the people reading it. It is constant, and I don't think it is fair, but who am I?"
Source : 90min