The Writing On The Wall

What happened in the euphemistically labelled “UK Riots” recently was a wakeup call for those who believed that the struggle to achieve race equality was over. There have been Race riots as far back as 1190 when the Jews of York were herded into a castle and killed and in 1290 the entire Jewish population escorted to the coast and deported. So is it a surprise that we arrived at a situation where a Black, Brown or person of Mixed Race had to consider whether it was safe to go to the centre of town or any public place in their own city. Some of our own parents have experienced that more recently in the 50s & 60s when Kelso Cochrane was murdered!

Many of you are aware of my stance on Racism over the last 40 years and much of that position is based on not forgetting that Racism is and will always be a feature of western society despite many believing that it was a thing of the past. The reality is that it can manifest itself in a variety of different ways either directly or indirectly, subtly, or unsubtly, visibly, or invisibly….but make no mistake it is always there. There are those who still cling on to that old belief “I don’t see colour” as if that is a declaration of their sense of fairness…..and there are those who still make the argument “Some of my best friends are Black” or “Some of my relatives are Black” as if that absolves them from any possibilities of them harbouring any Racist thoughts. I know that there are some who think that I go on about Race too much and there are many who would rather avoid the issue and not get involved in what they see as “politics”…..until it happens to them!

Although many will refuse to accept it, Brexit, in 2016, was a key marker in the legitimisation of Racism in the UK and even though Racism was a significant driver many Black and Brown people voted for it in the anticipation that it would endear them to those who were not sure about their allegiance to the notion of Britishness. After that it was the depressing downward spiral to further dismantling anything that seemed to get in the way of black people recognising the manner in which they were being treated differently. The right-wing tabloid press and those wanting to get it off their chest revelled in the demonisation of “wokeness” and those empathetic to the disadvantaged in society whilst offering themselves up as the “real” victims of this “woke” society.

In the last 10/15 years society as sleepwalked into not recognising Racism and some of us as Black people have collaborated in the non-recognition of the Racism that we have been experiencing in our desire to be non-threatening and accepted. Unfortunately, we have allowed the racism of our experiences to become normalised whether it is via the criminal justice system , bullying in our schools, the health services or in the field of employment. We have too easily given up complaining more publicly and that position has emboldened those who are happy to exercise further their Racism…..and those who complained were accused of playing the Race Card. Sadly those who otherwise would have supported us in anonymous public forums were not bold enough to complain on our behalf and very often support us from a distance, and we wonder why the racists are comfortable to walk the streets with confidence. Black Lives Matter was the last occasion when many people were motivated to register their position on Race….and that did not last long. Since then, almost like a retaliation, racism has been operating with impunity and those who stood with their cardboard placards have gone on to the next cause celebre…..at the moment it is climate change and Gaza!

So what is so different now!  Up and down the land people with racist intention came out to exercise their position and this awakened the anti-fascists who came together in opposition and Southampton responded positively; despite the fact that ethnic minority organisations, notwithstanding a smattering of Black & Brown individuals, seemed to be absent unlike in other cities.  However, let us not delude ourselves in believing that the battleground only lies in the places where there is violent racist activity. Most Racism operates in quiet places, in offices and boardrooms where it is exercised by the denial of opportunities and micro aggressions. In Southampton alone over the last few years, Black people are being stopped and searched in disproportionate numbers and Black children are being bullied in schools and Black care staff are being intimidated in our hospitals by staff and clients and when some of us called for the local authority to put in place a Race Advice Service that would capture these acts of Racism at the source it was met with stony silence! It is far easier for many to challenge the placard waving yobs on the streets, but many very often shy away from challenging the sophisticated managers in our public sector institutions, the racists in our workplaces and the local politicians who do not want to know and choose to advance their careers and reputations on slogans and rhetoric that promise much and yield very little.

As a Black person, a Brown person, or someone of Mixed Race do we now live in a time where we are not really sure what White people are thinking and what will it take for them to see us as a threat if another “Southport” situation were to arise. As with Black Lives Matter the public display of political position is fashionable but to challenge local institutions, where some of our friend live, requires so much more. Those out on the streets causing mayhem are the ones we can see but clearly there are others who are not out on the streets who may share some of their views and perhaps silently enable, and perhaps that is why the prospect of a Race Advice Service was so threatening as it would challenge these individual acts of Racism in those small spaces. Let us not forget that the people out on the streets causing mayhem were not all members of the far right some of them were the people who live next door!  Anti-Racism should be much more than saying you are Anti Racist and having rallies; as much as it makes us feel good about ourselves, it should be about challenging real life situations that are taking place every day of the week in our very city and no amount of flag waving and marching or expressions of “Diversity” will be a substitute for that. The writing has always been on the wall if we choose to look!

Don John